New contract for Barca left back Jordi Alba

MADRID, March 11 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona left back Jordi Alba on Monday signed a news.cn/en/tag/i0xngaj3163f76200c981b/index.html" target="_blank">new contract which will keep him at the club for the next five years.

The Spain international put pen to paper on a contract which means he will almost certainly end his career with Barcelona, when it expires in 2024.

The deal also includes a 500 million euro buyout clause (1 euro = 1.14 U.S. dollars).

Alba said at the press conference after he had signed his news.cn/en/tag/i0xngaj3163f76200c981b/index.html" target="_blank">new deal that he was "very grateful to Club, President and Board of Directors" for the news.cn/en/tag/i0xngaj3163f76200c981b/index.html" target="_blank">new contract and said he was "going through the best moment of my career, and continuing here was always my aim."

He also said that with time he was taking care of himself "much more, I have the support of my family along with the trust of the Club and my team-mates. I'm happy in all aspects of my life, and that allows me to play at the highest level," he commented.

Barca will take on Olympique Lyon on Wednesday in the return leg of their Champions League last 16 tie after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.