Barcelona have announced that Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí has signed a new four-year contract, extending her stay at the club until 2028.
Sources have told ESPN that the agreement will see Bonmatí become the highest-paid player in the women’s game.
Some of the biggest clubs in the world had been monitoring the midfielder, whose previous deal was due to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Cristian Martín, Bonmatí’s agent, revealed last week that Chelsea were even prepared to pay the €3 million ($3.3m) release clause included in her last contract.
Meanwhile, Barça have shown their desire to remain at the top of the women’s game by following up the renewal of two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas with a huge new deal for Bonmatí.
Salaries in women’s football are not public, but sources told ESPN the top earners in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Women’s Super League (WSL) earn between €400,000 and €600,000, annually.
Outside of the United States and England, Barça and Lyon are among the other clubs to also pay significant wages, with Putellas and…