Neymar signs new five-year deal with Barcelona through 2021
![Neymar signs new five-year deal with Barcelona through 2021 Neymar signs new five-year deal with Barcelona through 2021](https://www.si.com/.image/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/MTY4MTI2MDcxNzUwNjY1NDg5/neymar-barcelona-contract-extensionjpg.jpg)
Your teams. Your favorite writers. Wherever you want them. Personalize SI with our new App. Install on iOS or Android.
Brazilian forward Neymar has signed a new five-year contract with Barcelona, the club announced Friday.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has indicated Thursday that Neymar wanted to remain with the team and that an extension would be finalized soon, and that proved to be the case. Despite rumors that teams such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, or Manchester United would make a play at the forward, Bartomeu had said Neymar is “not going to leave.”
“It is normal that other clubs are interested in him, but I am saying this clearly: Neymar has never told us that he wants to leave,” Bartomeu continued.
If teams wans to pry him from Barcelona before 2021, it'll cost them. Neymar's release clause is set at €200 million for the first year of the contract, €222 million for the second and €250 million for the final three, according to a club statement.
• MORE: Neymar, Douglas Costa headline Brazil men's Olympic roster
Neymar himself hinted that his time at Barcelona will be continuing with a Twitter post on Thursday:
Muito feliz de continuar vivendo esse sonho! VISCA BARÇA y VISCA CATALUNYA 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/N8KXEgt5eA
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) June 30, 2016
Neymar came to Barcelona from Santos in 2013. According to Bartomeu, the extension was derailed due issues with that transfer that resulted in the club paying the Spanish government $16.7 million in back taxes in addition to a $6.1 million fine.
In his three seasons with Barcelona, Neymar has scored 85 goals and won eight trophies.