Umtiti's new Barcelona contract has R7.35bn buyout

Barcelona - The contract extension to 2023 that France defender Samuel Umtiti signed with Barcelona on Monday contains €500m (R7.35 billion) buyout clause, said club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

"We think that with this clause, no one will dream of coming here" for him, Bartomeu said at a press conference at the Nou Camp immediately after Umtiti signed.

"It's great news for Barcelona fans," said Bartomeu, who signed Umtiti for €25m from Lyon in 2016.

"Without Samuel, this team would not be the same and we need him."

Umtiti, who is 24 and has played 17 times for France, took a break from World Cup camp at Clairefontaine near Paris to travel to Barcelona.

"I'm a little nervous because my dream here continues," Umtiti said.

"From the first day here in Barcelona I felt at home and now I want to stay 15 years."

Umititi's previous deal had a €60m buyout, but that had begun to look low after Liverpool paid €84m for Virgil van Dijk in December and Manchester City paid €70m for Aymeric Laporte in January.