Sergio Busquets Signs Long-Term Extension to Remain with Barcelona

Barcelona reached a long-term contract extension with Sergio Busquets that will keep the midfielder at Camp Nou at least until the summer of 2018, the club announced on its official site.

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Sergio Busquets will be staying at FC Barcelona until June 30, 2018, with the option to one season more. At 13.30 today in the club offices, the player was joined by president Sandro Rosell, vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu, director of football Andoni Zubizarreta, the player’s father and former FCB goalkeeper Carles Busquets and his agent Josep Maria Orobitg. Busquets’ buyout clause remains at 150 million euros.

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Barca states the contract will keep Busquets tied to the defending La Liga champions through the 2017-18 season, and an option is in place for one more season beyond that. The deal keeps the star's buyout clause at €150 million.

The 25-year-old Spanish international has spent his entire senior career with Barcelona. He's established himself as a key piece of the puzzle for the powerhouse European club in a defensive midfield role, which is why it was important to sign him to a deal that secures his future.

Furthermore, keeping such a gaudy buyout clause in the deal should make sure no rival clubs even consider making an approach for Busquets during the length of the agreement. That's a key point because the new deal covers most of the midfielder's prime seasons.

Busquets has appeared in nearly 240 matches across all competitions for Barcelona since making his first-team debut in 2008. His presence in the midfield has been a stabilizing force for a club that's had no shortage of success, including four league titles, since his arrival.

Despite playing a defensive midfield role that doesn't lend itself to garnering a lot of attention, Busquets' ability to shutdown opposing attacks to ensure Barca can maintain its possession edge means his impact is felt throughout the squad.

By signing him to a contract extension, Barcelona can now rest easy knowing he will patrol the midfield for at least five more seasons.