Overview

• Barcelona has agreed terms with Espanyol to activate Joan Garcia’s €25 million release clause for the 2025–26 season
• Coach Hansi Flick and president Joan Laporta reportedly back Garcia as the likely first-choice goalkeeper if the transfer goes through
• Marc-André ter Stegen, who is under contract until June 2028, publicly asserted he expects to stay at Barcelona despite reports suggesting he might have to leave
• Wojciech Szczesny and academy graduate Iñaki Peña remain in the mix for backup roles as the club evaluates its goalkeeping hierarchy
• Barcelona must balance sustaining Ter Stegen’s experience with integrating Garcia’s emergence and meeting Szczesny’s desire for a contract extension