Barcelona defender Eric Garcia has quietly become one of the most important players in Hansi Flick’s plans in recent months. His growing influence has been evident from the significant amount of game time he has enjoyed since the start of the season.
The Spaniard has already featured in 20 matches for the club, 15 in La Liga and five in the UEFA Champions League. Even more impressive is that 17 of those 20 appearances have come as a starter, which highlights the trust placed in him by the coaching staff.
Beyond his on-field importance, another key topic surrounding Garcia has been his contract renewal. [Negotiations for a new deal have been underway for quite some time](https://semprebarca.com/barcelona-reach-preliminary-agreement-to-renew-the-contract-of-24-year-old-in-form-star/), keeping the defender in the headlines as the process evolved.
Now, according to [SPORT](https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/fecha-final-renovacion-eric-garcia-124407238), which cites information from journalist Fabrizio Romano, the wait for the renewal is now very close to ending. Garcia is expected to sign his new contract at the Spotify Camp Nou offices next week.
This agreement will secure his continuity with the Catalan club until 2030, extending his stay for four additional years beyond the current season.
The renewal is considered a priority for the sporting department led by Deco, especially after securing the futures of several core players such as Cubarsi, Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Kounde, and Frenkie de Jong.
Deco himself recently confirmed that the renewal is progressing well, although a few final details still need to be settled.
The process has not been simple. Garcia’s rise in performance this season has caught the attention of major clubs across Europe. In France, there has been persistent talk of interest from Luis Enrique’s PSG, who could have been tempted by the fact that Garcia’s current deal was set to expire in June 2026. However, those rumours were never confirmed by sources within the Parisian club.
Despite external interest, Garcia’s intention has always been clear. His goal is to succeed at Barcelona. It was the reason he chose not to extend his contract at Manchester City, and with his current level of performance, he is even positioning himself as a potential future captain.
His leadership was evident in the recent match against Atletico Madrid, where he wore the armband for the first time.
Garcia, who has been playing with a protective mask since breaking his nose in Bruges during a Champions League match, has become a crucial piece for Hansi Flick during these early months of the campaign.
His versatility across the defense and his ability to operate comfortably as a midfielder have given the German coach valuable flexibility at a time when injuries and dips in form have affected several starters.
The statistics underline his importance. Garcia is no longer just a squad option. He has become an undisputed starter. In terms of minutes played, he is already closing in on the total number he accumulated last season and is only six full games away from matching it. His contributions have also included one goal and one assist.
With his renewal imminent, Barcelona can look forward to several more years of a player who has firmly established himself as one of the pillars of Hansi Flick’s project.