On July 7, FCBarcelona confirmed that the renewal of Iker Rodríguez, Barça Atlètic's promising 18-year-old goalkeeper, is practically sealed. The young man, who had attracted the attention of several European clubs, already has a new contract that guarantees him to remain at the club until 2027, with the possibility of extending it to the first team when he considers it appropriate.
Since his beginnings at Can Rull in Sabadell, Rodríguez has been a key player in the Barça youth team. He has represented Spain in all the minor categories, from U-15 to U-19, and has been a starter in the reserve team, leading Group 2 of the SegundaRFEF with only four goals conceded in eight games. His performance in the pre-season under the direction of HansiFlick has allowed him to participate in training with the first team, which demonstrates the club's confidence in his potential.
The renewal process, which began at the beginning of July when the sports management of the first team was launched after interest from other teams, was delayed by administrative issues and the need to adjust the draft of the contract. However, the parties have reached a definitive agreement and the document only needs to be signed, which is expected to arrive at the end of the week or early next week. The contract, probably for 2 years with an option for 3, will continue to be linked to the reserve team, but the club will be able to extend it to the first team whenever it wishes.
Although the initial plan was for Rodríguez to alternate with EderAller as the first team's third goalkeeper, the arrival of Croatian DominikLivaković changed that dynamic. However, Rodríguez's development project remains intact: he will continue playing in the reserves until his contract with the Pole ends in 2027, at which time Barça will be able to incorporate him into the first team. The club considers that this continuity as a starter at Barça Atlètic is more beneficial for its growth than competing for a reserve position under HansiFlick, as happened to Diego Kochen in previous seasons.
With JoanGarcía's injury and Livaković's participation in the match against Sevilla, Rodríguez remained active in the reserve team, arriving in Barbastro in time to win 0‑1. In the 2024-25 season, at 16 and 17 years old, he has already been called up for several training sessions with the first team, which indicates that the club sees him as a key future piece. The signing of the contract will consolidate his future at Barça and will allow the club to plan his integration into the first team when the time comes.