Reluctant Frenkie de Jong set to join Man United after agreeing club deal with Barcelona

Barcelona have reached an agreement with Manchester United for the potential transfer of Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who has yet to approve the move, a person at the Spanish club familiar with the deal said. Associated Press On Thursday.

United agreed to pay Barcelona €75 million plus a potential €10 million for the 25-year-old de Jong, according to a club official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the deal.

De Jong, who is under contract with Barcelona until June 2026, has yet to agree a transfer to the English Premier League side. So far, he has been reluctant to leave the Camp Nou.

Javi is not in the plans

But a Barcelona official with knowledge of the deal said coach Xavi Hernandez told De Jong he would not be a key part of his squad. Barcelona will close a definitive deal before the team departs on Saturday for a preseason tour of the United States.

Barcelona is working to reduce its payroll as it tries to reduce its debt. De Jong’s salary, a club official said, was not in line with its new financial priorities.

De Jong has made 140 appearances since Barcelona bought him from Ajax in 2019 for €75 million (then $85.5 million), mostly as a regular starter.