Two days after adding youth by drafting Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, the Golden State Warriors agreed to retain their oldest player in center Al Horford. Horford will decline his $6 million player option for next season and return to the Warriors on a two-year, $14 million contract, league sources confirmed to the Chronicle on Thursday.

He had until Monday’s deadline to decide about his option for next season. Two other Warriors players, Draymond Green and De’Anthony Melton, must make a similar decision by Monday.

Horford, who turned 40 on June 3, will return for his 20th season, a landmark only 12 NBA players have reached. LeBron James tops the list with 23 seasons and counting, followed by Vince Carter at 22.

Golden State had sought an outside-shooting, floor-spacing center like Horford for years, but he had an injury-plagued season in 2025-26 after joining the Warriors as a free agent. He averaged 8.3 points and 4.9 rebounds over 45 games, shooting 36.1% from long distance. 

Most notably, Horford struggled with sciatica early in the season and a strained calf later in the year. 

But he showed his impact during the Warriors’ dramatic play-in tournament win over the Los Angeles Clippers on April 15. Horford scored 14 points — including four 3-point shots in the game’s final six minutes — as he and Stephen Curry led a spirited surge to propel the Warriors to victory.

Horford spoke often of his comfort with the Warriors throughout the season. Still, he left open the possibility of retiring after a long career highlighted by five All-Star berths and the 2024 championship with Boston.

His decision to keep playing hinged, in part, on what the Warriors were building before forward Jimmy Butler’s season-ending torn ACL in January. Butler also will miss at least half of next season, as will Moses Moody (torn patellar tendon).

“I want to see it through,” Horford told ESPN. “That (Butler injury) kind of put a damper on things. Jimmy is a very special player, and he was doing so much for us. I feel like things were starting to turn.”

Horford’s new contract with the Warriors won’t become official until July 6, when the league’s free-agency moratorium ends. ESPN first reported the deal.