Busquets renews contract with Barcelona

Barcelona's Sergio Busquets. (AP/Darko Bandic)

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona says defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets has renewed his contract with the club through 2018 with an option to extend for another year.

The club says the Spain international’s buyout clause is to remain at 150 million euros ($197 million).

Barcelona praised Busquets, calling him "one of the key players" in the club’s midfield line-up, having scored eight goals in 238 appearances, four of them away from home.

The renewal was signed Tuesday, Busquets’ 25th birthday. The player’s last contract extension was on Jan. 27, 2011.

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