FC Barcelona reached an agreement with their teenage star, Lamine Yamal, on Monday. The 16-year-old signed his first professional contract with the Catalan side until at least 2026.
On Monday, the winger officially signed a contract at the training grounds of Barça. The signing was witnessed by President Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, who were both present during the momentous occasion. Furthermore, the contract includes a whopping €1 billion release clause.
Because Yamal is not yet 18, he cannot sign contracts exceeding three years in length, which is why he has not signed any longer agreements. Nonetheless, a coach believes that the youngster has the potential to rival the talent of Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé.
“Lamine Yamal can reach Mbappé’s level,” Portuguese coach Carlos Carvalha said.
Carlos Carvalhal (Portuguese coach): "Lamine Yamal can reach Mbappé's level." pic.twitter.com/7BLCtpvx3H
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) October 2, 2023
These next couple of years will be interesting to see how Yamal develops. At such a young age, his career can go in either direction, but he definitely has the potential to be one of the top talents in football.