- Bonmati's contract was due to expire next year
- Barcelona faced growing interest from WSL champions Chelsea
- The 26-year-old is the current women's Ballon d'Or holder
Aitana Bonmati is very close to signing a contract extension with Barcelona in a deal that will see her become the highest-paid player in women's football, a report has revealed.
The 26-year-old was reportedly in high demand from other European clubs this summer, including WSL champions Chelsea with her contract with the Catalan side set to expire next year.
However, The Athletic report the midfielder has since committed to a future that will see her remain playing in Spain's Liga F.
The news will no doubt come as a huge relief to Barcelona fans, for who Bonmati's potential departure would've been a huge loss.
Bonmati first joined the club nearly ten years ago and has since made over 150 appearances, becoming an instrumental asset on the pitch. A particularly memorable moment was her winning her second Champions League title last year, with Bonmati named player of the tournament following Barcelona's nail-biting comeback win against Wolfsburg in the final.
Bonmati has also been lucky enough to enjoy an extremely successful international career. She was part of the Spanish World Cup-winning squad in Australia and New Zealand that defeated England 1-0 in the final.
Her top-tier talent has also been recognised off the pitch, earning her a series of accolades at such a young age. Last October, Bonmati was named the women's Ballon d'Or winner for the very first time, and was nominated for the same award only last week for the second consecutive year.
With Bonmati now set to stay at Barcelona, the club will be looking to build upon their previous successes having won the league and reached the Champions League final every season since 2020.
