Frenkie de Jong drops down as Lamine Yamal moves up in Barcelona captaincy group

Lamine Yamal has strengthened his growing influence at Barcelona after being promoted into the club’s five-man captaincy group, while Frenkie de Jong has slipped down the leadership order.

Frenkie de Jong has dropped down Barcelona’s captaincy hierarchy as teenage sensation Lamine Yamal moves into the club’s five-man leadership group for the 2026/27 season, highlighting the changing balance of influence inside the Camp Nou dressing room.

Barcelona have confirmed Raphinha and Pedri as the first and second captains, with Eric Garcia, De Jong and Yamal completing the group after a vote involving the players.

The development represents a significant change for De Jong, who had previously occupied a higher position in Barcelona’s leadership structure, but the Dutch midfielder has seen his status reduced after spending part of the pre-season sidelined with injury.

Hansi Flick had initially selected Raphinha, Pedri and Garcia as temporary captains while waiting for the squad to be finalised and for the players to conduct their vote.

De Jong remained part of the eventual group even though he should have become the captain following the departure of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Ronald Araujo, but Yamal’s inclusion was the headline development, particularly because the forward is only 19.

His promotion reflects how quickly the Spain international has established himself as one of Barcelona’s most influential figures. Yamal has already become central to Flick’s plans on the pitch and recently reached another milestone by scoring his 50th goal for Barcelona during the 5-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano.

His growing responsibility also comes after a period in which Barcelona have undergone a significant leadership reshuffle, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ronald Araujo no longer occupying their previous places in the captaincy structure.

De Jong’s demotion therefore appears less like an outright removal and more like part of a broader generational transition at the club, with Barcelona increasingly placing responsibility on players expected to shape the team’s future.

For Yamal, meanwhile, the latest development represents another remarkable step in his rapid rise from teenage prodigy to one of the recognised leaders of Barcelona’s first team.