This is essentially a lifetime contract. Ivan Perišić (36), whose transfer to FC Barcelona fell through, extended his contract with PSV Eindhoven.
PSV announced, "We have signed a new contract with Perišić. He has extended his contract with PSV until the summer of 2027. As a Croatian national team player, he signed the new contract on Friday afternoon at Philips Stadion."
PSV noted, "Both the club and the player are very satisfied with this contract," adding, "Perišić will immediately move to the airport after signing the contract and plans to stay in his home country for another week. However, those who think he will only relax on the beach will be disappointed."
The veteran Perišić is set to begin training immediately. He said, "I had a wonderful vacation. However, starting tomorrow, I plan to train hard with the coach to prepare for the next season. Last season was excellent, but I still have a lot of thirst. I want to give my all for the new season."
Perišić is focusing on the 2026 North American World Cup, which will be his last World Cup. Having already experienced the tournament three times, he still plays a key role on the Croatian national team and wants to maintain his top form until the summer of next year. This makes the upcoming 2025-2026 season even more important for him.
Perišić expressed, "Today is a really great day for me, my family, and loved ones," adding, "I had a really enjoyable time here last season. Personally, I had many goals and assists. It was a tough year, but winning the league was the best moment for all of us. The fans were also fantastic, and I want to thank them for that. Just like the players, I hope the supporters can also step forward together."
He also mentioned his role as a veteran. Perišić stated, "It is very important to help younger players. I know well how tough it was when I left my home country at 17. I think it would be good to tell future generations what steps they need to take for long-term success. Our team has many talented players," and added that he would put his personal goals aside.
Director Ernest Stewart smiled at Perišić's remarks. He stated, "Perišić is a great example of what it takes to reach the top and stay there," and added, "Last season, he also excellently led the other players. He has been a great help to us. We are all very happy that Perišić remains with PSV."
In the end, Perišić and PSV will continue their journey together for two more years. Born in 1988, Perišić is a versatile wing resource and an experienced veteran. He has played for several major European clubs, including Wolfsburg, Inter Milan, and Bayern, lifting numerous trophies. Notably, Perišić transformed into a wing-back under manager Antonio Conte during his time at Inter and became a key part of Conte’s three-man defense.
He also played alongside Son Heung-min. Perišić joined Tottenham in 2022 under manager Conte. However, due to frequent overlap with Son Heung-min on the left side, he did not perform as expected, and after a bombshell statement, manager Conte left the team.
Additionally, Perišić faced a long rehabilitation process nearly ruling him out for the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2023, complicating his time at Tottenham. Nonetheless, he did not give up and honed his skills through a loan at Hajduk Split in his home country of Croatia. Last summer, he joined Hajduk on a free transfer but unexpectedly terminated his contract and joined Eindhoven.
Perišić successfully resurrected his career in the Netherlands. He recorded 9 goals and 9 assists in 27 Eredivisie matches last season and 16 goals and 10 assists in 35 official matches. He especially contributed a valuable opening goal in the final match against Sparta Rotterdam, helping PSV achieve a thrilling comeback victory and secure their second consecutive Eredivisie championship, marking their 26th league title.
However, it remains uncertain whether Perišić will wear the PSV uniform next season. He pushed for a transfer to Barcelona, the 'La Liga champions,' this summer. In fact, manager Hansi Flick, with whom he worked during his time at Bayern Munich, reached out to him.
Unlike two years ago when Perišić sadly left Tottenham as a free agent, he gained considerable popularity now. Eindhoven quickly proposed a two-year renewal, while Barcelona also reached out to Perišić first to explore the possibility of a transfer.
Perišić, who has yet to play in La Liga, aspired to join Barcelona. He delayed PSV's offer in pursuit of joining Barcelona, even willing to accept a pay cut. For Barcelona, which still has financial constraints, the lack of a transfer fee also made it seem like a good option.
However, Perišić's dream did not come true. Barcelona has focused on acquiring winger Lamine Yamal, who was born in 2005, and Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao. Since manager Flick considered Perišić merely as a backup option and a good mentor, the move fell through. Ultimately, Perišić, whose transfer to Barcelona fell through, signed a renewal with PSV.
[Photo] 365 Scores, PSV, Tottenham social media.
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