Samuel Umtiti, Barcelona reach agreement on new contract

French defender Samuel Umtiti has ended speculation over his future by agreeing a new five-year deal with Barcelona.

The 24-year-old had been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United over the past few months due to an affordable £52m release clause in his contract.

Umtiti arrived at Camp Nou from Lyon in 2016 and has been a regular for the Catalan giants, with club chiefs reportedly prioritising a new contract for the centre-back over signing Antoine Griezmann.

A week on from revealing that talks were close to being concluded, Umtiti has now officially shaken hands on fresh terms with Barcelona.

"Barcelona and the player Samuel Umtiti have reached an agreement for the renewal of a contract that will bind both parties for the next five seasons," a statement on the La Liga champions' website read.

"The act of signing will take place Monday, at 10am in the Camp Nou, and later the player will speak to the media. A great piece of news for the Barcelona fans, Samuel Umtiti will continue to wear the Cule shirt until 2023."

Umtiti has amassed 79 appearances for Barca, 50 of which have come in the Spanish top flight.