Frenkie de Jong's story at Barça seems written by a screenwriter with a taste for unexpected twists. He arrived in 2019 for €86 million as an unstoppable prospect from Ajax. However, during his first seasons, his performance was very inconsistent and disappointing for much of the Barça community.
He was criticized for his slowness, his lack of impact in matches, and his nonexistent football evolution. Even so, the club couldn't find a way out for him due to his high salary. The years went by like this, with a dull Frenkie, lacking shine, and increasingly questioned by Camp Nou crowd.
Everything changed last season, when Hansi Flick decided to give him one last big opportunity. At first, he wasn't even in the initial plans of the German coach, with Marc Casadó taking his place. In January, De Jong was reborn with a version very close to the one that captivated at Ajax.
The Dutchman had serious offers from major European clubs. Among the favorites were PSG, Bayer, and Liverpool, but the player wanted to stay in Barcelona.
Flick has given him the trust he needed to reach his football maturity
Since then, he became an undisputed starter for the new coach, earning the respect of all his teammates. His football became vertical again, with purpose, bold, and bringing balance to the midfield. The crowd went from skepticism to admiration in just six months.
The 2024/25 season ended with a consolidated, decisive Frenkie de Jong, showing leadership both on and off the field. So much so that in the locker room, he's already mentioned as the favorite to be the first captain. The Dutchman's teammates have requested that he take on that role, now that Ter Stegen's future is uncertain.
As happened last year, the captains will be chosen through an internal vote among the first-team footballers. According to El Desmarque, everything indicates that the Dutchman will be the most voted by his teammates. A choice that carries more weight than ever.
Frenkie de Jong will officially be Barça's first captain
During the previous campaign, he was already the third captain, behind Ter Stegen and Ronald Araújo. However, with both out of the usual starting eleven, it was De Jong who wore the armband most often on the field. Flick highly valued his ability to lead without needing to raise his voice.
This time there are no doubts: Frenkie de Jong will be FC Barcelona's captain for the 2025/26 season. It won't be just a symbolic appointment, but a plot twist that confirms his new stage at the club. After years of rumors about his departure, now he's more essential than ever.
The vote also includes names like Gavi, Pedri, Iñigo Martínez, or Raphinha, all influential within the group. None have had De Jong's meteoric evolution, who has gone from ostracism to the top of the locker room. A redemption story that few could've imagined just two summers ago.
The official announcement will be imminent
The club already has the official communication ready to announce the new captains in the coming days. Frenkie de Jong's figure stands out in both sporting and institutional plans. In this new Barça, he'll be the one to lead the group both on and off the field.
Joan Laporta and Hansi Flick agree that his profile fits with the values of the new blaugrana project. Hard work, silence, performance, and professionalism have been the keys to earning this responsibility. The fans are already starting to look at Frenkie de Jong differently: now they see him as the leader they never thought they'd have.
