Vinicius Jr. signs contract extension with Real Madrid until 2027

Brazilian striker Vinicius Jr. has signed a contract extension until 2027 with Real Madrid, the La Liga heavyweights announced on Tuesday.

"Real Madrid CF and Viní Jr. have agreed to extend the player's contract, who will remain at the club until June 30, 2027," the club said in a statement. ESPN reported that the deal was agreed in July 2022, but not announced until Tuesday.

Real paid 45 million euros (about $47.5 million) in 2018 to land Vinicius Jr. from Flamengo. He has scored 62 goals and delivered 67 assists in 235 games for the club since then, winning two La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and one UEFA Champions League trophy among other things.

"At 23 years old, Viní Jr. is already one of the most outstanding players at Real Madrid in recent years," Real said in the statement. "… He was also named Best Young Player in the Champions League 2021-22, and has twice been included in the best eleven of the Champions League [2021-22 and 2022-23] and twice in the best La Liga eleven [2021-22 and 2022-23]."

Transfermarkt currently values Vinicius Jr. for 150 million euros (about $158.2 million), one of the highest in the world. He is the leading member of Real's young generation that includes Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham.

Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr. has been active battling racism in Spanish football as well as involved in charity and social projects. He received the Socrates Award at Monday's France Football's Ballon d'Or ceremony for his work in Brazil with the Viní Jr. Institute.

Real are currently leading La Liga with 28 points after coming back to defeat Barcelona 2-1 in last week's El Clasico. They will host Rayo Vallecano at their home stadium, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.