Fabrizio Romano has clarified the situation surrounding a Barcelona midfielder valued at around £70 million, following speculative reports in Spain that rather optimistically linked him with a move to Sunderland.
Barcelona have acted swiftly to end any distant transfer rumours involving Fermín López by securing a new long-term contract with the midfielder, effectively closing the door on any external interest that had loosely mentioned Sunderland.
Romano reports that Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with López on a new deal running until June 2031, with the paperwork expected to be completed this week. The agreement includes a pay rise and comes after the player previously turned down the idea of leaving the club last summer.
Posting on social media, Romano said:
BREAKING: “Barcelona verbally agree new deal with Fermín López valid until June 2031. Fermín rejected to leave in August and he’s set to sign new deal soon, with salary improved. Could be signed already this week.”
This update effectively puts an end to any lingering speculation linking the 22-year-old with Sunderland, rumours that were always considered highly improbable within the game. Spanish outlet Fichajes had suggested over the weekend that the Black Cats were keeping tabs on López and even hinted at a sensational £69.3 million transfer — a fee that would have smashed Sunderland’s existing transfer record, currently held by Habib Diarra’s £30 million move.
However, given the financial scale involved and López’s growing importance at Barcelona, the reports were never widely taken seriously. López is now a well-established member of the first-team setup at Camp Nou and has become a regular presence in both La Liga and the Champions League.
His rise has been remarkably quick. After signing his first professional contract with Barcelona Atlètic in August 2022, López spent the 2022–23 season on loan at Linares, scoring 12 goals in 40 appearances and emerging as one of the standout players in the Primera Federación.
Impressive performances during pre-season earned him a spot in Barcelona’s senior squad ahead of the 2023–24 season, including a memorable friendly against Real Madrid in which he registered both a goal and an assist. He made his La Liga debut later that summer and soon made his mark, scoring in domestic and European competitions. One standout moment came in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk, where he scored and was named man of the match.
Since then, his role has continued to grow. López has received further contract extensions, contributed to Barcelona’s domestic treble in the 2024–25 campaign, and earlier this season became the first Spanish player since 1986 to score a Champions League hat-trick for the club.
Former Sunderland winger Kieron Brady believes fans should still see the links as a positive sign of the club’s ambition. Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle earlier this month, Brady said:
“If someone is playing even semi-regularly for Barcelona, are they really going to leave that to come to the Premier League and Sunderland?”
He added:
“If a £70 million deal were ever to happen, you’d expect wages well beyond what Sunderland currently pay. But even if it doesn’t come off, it’s encouraging for supporters to see the level of players the club is being associated with.
“If Sunderland are even considering players of that calibre, you’d hope that ambition carries across into other areas of their recruitment. Whether it materialises or not is another question — but right now, it’s a big name to be linked with.”
