Chelsea target Ousmane Dembele extends his contract at Barcelona for two years

Ousmane Dembele-Barcelona

Ousmane Dembele has finally extended his stay at Barcelona by signing a new two-year contract that will keep him at the Spanish La Liga club until 2024.

The French winger, who has been in the club for five years, was due to walk away after his previous deal at the club expired on June 30. But he has now put pen to paper on a new deal, bringing to end months of uncertainty surrounding his future.

The contract renewal also heals the relationship which was threatening to grow sour between Dembele and Barca, who had instructed him to find a new club in January after he failed to strike an agreement over a renewal. They even left him out of the squad for two matches and threatened that they would banish him to the stands for the rest of the season if he stayed without signing a new contract.

But, Xavi Hernandez, who has always maintained he wanted the French winger to stay, brought him back into the side in February despite opposition from within the club.

Dembele, 25, eventually ended the campaign with a league-high 13 assists.

Speaking after signing the new deal, Dembele said:

“Today is a very happy day.

“I’ve had difficult years because of injuries, but this is another time. My first option was to stay. It [negotiations] has been long, but we are all happy, and I can’t wait for the season to start to help.

“The aim is to win titles. The dream is the Champions League and I’m going to give it my all to win this title. I’m going to work hard and I hope it’s a very good year for me and for Barca.”

Barca president Joan Laporta added: “Ousmane has a special talent, he is a different player. [Barca coach] Xavi wants him and so does the club. It’s an emotional day. I have an admiration for Ousmane as a player and as a person. He’s always wanted to stay, and he has made an effort to adapt to the new wage structure at Barca.”

Premier League side, Chelsea and French champions Paris Saint-Germain had been strongly linked with signing Dembele, who technically became a free agent this month. Still, sources close to the player have always said staying at Barca was his first option.