By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Barcelona have announced Ousmane Dembele has agreed a new contract until the summer of 2024, bringing an end to months of transfer speculation.
The 25-year-old, who was briefly a free agent, after seeing his original deal with the Catalan giants expire at the end of last month.
The club and player had been discussing a new deal for months but they struggled to reach any common ground. As a result, his contract expired on June 30.
However, despite being a free agent, Dembele had little interest from other clubs and subsequently returned to the negotiating table with Barcelona.
Boss Xavi Hernandez has always made wingers his absolute priority since taking over the club from Ronald Koeman last season.
He has fought for Dembele to stay when other voices at the club had wanted him gone.
He even insisted on picking him when there were those at the club who wanted him sidelined to force his hand over signing a new deal.
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— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 14, 2022
It has now been agreed and confirmed on social media with an announcement video that has been heavily criticised by fans.
He scored one goal and registered a 13 assists in the league as Barcelona finished second in LaLiga last season.
Dembele joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 and has made 150 appearances for the club, scoring 32 goals and assisting 34. He has won two league titles and two Spanish Cups during his five-year stint.
Barcelona strengthened their forward line by signing Brazilian winger Raphinha from Leeds United on Wednesday, their third signing of the transfer window following the arrivals of Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen.