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BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 01:  Neymar of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou on November 1, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain.  (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 01: Neymar of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou on November 1, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)David Ramos/Getty Images

Neymar, Barcelona Agree on New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Gianni VerschuerenJul 1, 2016

Barcelona announced on Friday that star forward Neymar has put pen to paper on a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2021.

The Blaugrana provided confirmation of the agreement: 

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BBC Sport's Dan Roan shared details of the terms of the contract:

Per Eurosport's Toby Keel, Neymar posted a message on his Twitter feed acknowledging his new deal ahead of the official announcement, which read: "I'm very happy to continue living this dream! Long live Barcelona and long live Catalunya."

Neymar was recently linked with moves to Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Per the Associated Press' Rob Harris, the consistent rumours surrounding him likely did him no harm during the negotiations:

The Brazil international had been negotiating a new deal with the Blaugrana since 2014 despite being under contract until the end of the 2017-18 season. In December 2014, he told Catalan newspaper Sport he was keen on committing his future to the club, saying: "I could not be happier in Barcelona."

The 24-year-old joined the Primera Division giants in 2013, finally crossing the Atlantic Ocean after making a huge impression playing for Santos in his native Brazil.

He had his fair share of struggles adapting on the field during his first season in Europe, but he came on strong toward the end of the 2013-14 campaign.

An impressive showing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup set the stage for a breakout season with Barcelona, and Neymar didn't disappoint. He played a vital role in the Catalans' treble-winning season, shining in the UEFA Champions League in particular, scoring an impressive 10 goals, per WhoScored.com.

Despite a couple of bumps, he was almost as good in the 2015-16 campaign, adding 24 goals and 12 assists in La Liga. Transfer speculation persisted, however, particularly toward the end of the season.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 15:  Neymar Santos Jr and Claudio Bravo (R) of FC Barcelona take a selfie as they celebrate on an open top bus during their victory parade after winning the Spanish La Liga on May 15, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.  (Photo by Alex Caparr

Playing alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Neymar is a member of one of the greatest attacks the sport has seen. No one expected him to leave such a fantastic situation, and this new contract all but ends the chances of that happening.

As well as being a phenomenal player on the pitch, Neymar is one of the sport's most recognisable athletes. He's hugely popular in Brazil and has no doubt done wonders for Barcelona's popularity in South America.

The Catalans' decision to lock up one of the sport's best young stars to a long-term deal is a logical and smart one. Neymar is one of the faces of the club, and with this new deal, he's set to remain a part of the Blaugrana machine for years to come.

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