The hold-up was never about money. Raphinha and Barcelona’s sporting director Deco settled the remaining terms in person at a restaurant weeks ago, and what pushed the formal signing into November was simply calendar clashes, according to Barca Universal.

Thursday is now the date. The new contract extends Raphinha’s commitment by two years, running from June 2028 to June 2030.

From September to November

Deco had publicly flagged the two-year extension back in September at the club’s Assembly of Delegates. Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano wrote in early October, as reported by Yahoo Sports, that an announcement “could take place as early as Friday, provided the remaining documentation is completed as planned.” That Friday came and went, and so did several more.

Fixtures, international duty and training schedules pushed the ceremony steadily down the calendar. A recovery session is scheduled for Wednesday, after which Hansi Flick is expected to give the squad Thursday off ahead of Sunday’s LaLiga trip to Atlético Madrid. That opening is what Barcelona needed to get Raphinha, Deco and the paperwork in the same room.

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Last-minute changes have not been formally ruled out, but the terms are settled.

A brace against Aston Villa

The signing lands at the end of a week that showed exactly why Barcelona are tying him down. On Tuesday, Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Camp Nou, with Fermín López setting him up for the second goal and Joao Cancelo providing the cross for the third. Lamine Yamal had opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

The result moved Flick’s side up the Champions League league-phase table and ended Aston Villa’s perfect start to the competition, with Barcelona recording their first clean sheet in the tournament in 19 games.

Once Thursday’s signature is in, Barcelona’s attention shifts to Sunday in Madrid, with Raphinha tied to the Catalans on paper through to the summer of 2030.

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