Barcelona have confirmed their captaincy structure for the 2026-27 season, with Frenkie de Jong fourth behind Raphinha, Pedri and Eric Garcia.
The final order is Raphinha, Pedri, Eric Garcia, De Jong and Lamine Yamal. Mundo Deportivo first reported the list, with other Spanish outlets later confirming the same order. Flick chose the first two captains himself, naming Raphinha first and Pedri second.
The remaining three positions were decided by a vote among the players, which placed Garcia third, De Jong fourth, and Yamal fifth.
De Jong had been expected to feature higher in the order given his seniority and experience at Barcelona, but the player vote put Garcia and Yamal ahead of him.
How Hansi Flick Split The Decision
Flick had already named Raphinha as Barcelona's provisional captain before the Joan Gamper Trophy in August. De Jong was unavailable due to injury at the time, with Raphinha expected to wear the armband until the squad was finalised.
That arrangement has now become permanent, with Raphinha and Pedri taking the first two positions in the captaincy order. Flick then left the other three places to the squad. The players voted Garcia into third, De Jong fourth, and Yamal fifth.
Why De Jong's Position Has Drawn Attention
Garcia's promotion to third captain has received less attention than De Jong's drop to fourth. The defender has been an important squad player under Flick, featuring in several positions since the German coach took charge.
De Jong's position has attracted more interest because of his experience at the club. He has made more Barcelona appearances than the other players involved in the captaincy discussion, but that was not enough to place him in the top three.
Crónica Global has also reported that De Jong is still recovering from his knee injury, although it did not state whether his fitness situation affected the vote.
There has been no direct explanation from Flick, De Jong or Barcelona for the order. For now, the reason behind the players' decision remains unclear.
Lamine Yamal Becomes Barcelona's Fifth Captain
Yamal's inclusion is another notable result from the squad vote. The 19-year-old has been named Barcelona's fifth captain despite his relatively short senior career. His inclusion puts him ahead of several more experienced players in the squad.
Jules Kounde is another notable absence from the list. ElNacional.cat has linked his omission to a reported decline in influence within the squad and previous speculation over his future. Barcelona have not confirmed that this was the reason he was left out.
