Barcelona crowns Raphinha captain after Araujo, ter Stegen exits
FC Barcelona face a leadership void after the loan departures of defender Ronald Araujo to Liverpool and goalkeeper Marc‑André ter Stegen to Ajax Amsterdam, prompting the club to promote Brazilian forward Raphinha to captain for the upcoming season under the blaugrana colours.
Leadership gap after key loans
Ronald Araujo’s season‑long loan to Liverpool and Marc‑André ter Stegen’s move to Ajax Amsterdam have left Barcelona without a regular defender and goalkeeper in the dressing‑room. The club therefore turned to Raphinha to fill the captaincy void. The decision was confirmed by L’Équipe.
Raphinha was in contention with midfielder Frenkie De Jong for the captain’s armband. Ultimately, the Dutch midfielder was assigned the vice‑captaincy, placing him just behind Raphinha in the hierarchy. Raphinha, who wears the number 11 shirt, was also highlighted as a senior figure in the squad.
Pedri and Eric Garcia will complete the leadership chain, ranking behind De Jong. This structure defines the order of responsibility within the squad.
Barça breaks tradition, appoints Raphinha as captain over De Jong
After an exceptional 2024‑25 campaign, Raphinha entered the 2025‑26 season amid a spate of injuries that disrupted the team. The former Rennes player is now expected to shoulder greater expectations.
Contract secures Raphinha’s role
Raphinha remains under contract with the Catalan club until June 2028, giving him two more seasons to cement his captaincy. The extension aligns with Barcelona’s plan to maintain continuity in leadership. The move marks a new chapter for Barcelone. He enters his fifth season with the blaugrana colours.
The Brazilian forward must now lead both on the pitch and inside the locker room. His duties will encompass guiding teammates during matches and setting standards in training. His leadership will be tested in both domestic league and European fixtures.
Le Barça hopes the new hierarchy will restore stability after the recent departures.