BARCELONA: Germany international goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has extended his contract with Barcelona until 2022, the club announced on Monday.

Ter Stegen, 25, has claimed the number one jersey at Barcelona since signing from Borussia Moenchengladbach for 12 million euros ($13.4 million) in 2014, seeing off competition from Chilean Claudio Bravo and Dutchman Jasper Cillessen.

Ter Stegen had to make do with playing in the Champions League and Copa del Rey in his first two seasons at Barca as Bravo was chosen for league games and the German threatened to leave at the end of his second season unless he was made the undisputed number one.

He got his wish when Bravo signed for Manchester City in August 2016 and played 46 games during the last campaign. However, he sat out most of the team’s Copa del Rey games, with Cillessen chosen in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Alaves in the final.

“FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Marc-Andre ter Stegen to extend and improve his contract until June 30, 2022,” Barca said in a statement. “His buyout clause will rise to 180 million euros.”

Ter Stegen has won nine trophies in three seasons with Barca, playing 93 matches, conceding 90 goals in 71 wins, 10 draws and 12 losses.

Tying down Ter Stegen is just the latest in a series of high-profile contract renewals at the Camp Nou as Barca prepare for a new era after the departure of coach Luis Enrique.

Barca have already renewed the contracts of Javier Mascherano, Luis Suarez, Neymar, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic and are expected to announce a new contract for their all-time top scorer and talisman Lionel Messi later in the summer, with the five-time world player of the year expected to be made the highest paid player in Europe.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2017