Overview

• Ter Stegen will undergo a fifth surgery in five years at Sports Clinic Bordeaux Merignac on July 29 under Dr. Amélie Léglise.
• The goalkeeper expects a three-month recovery but Barcelona’s medical team projects a four-to-five-month layoff.
• A three-month absence does not qualify for LaLiga’s Article 77 long-term injury exception, preventing the club from reallocating 80 % of his wages to register new signings.
• Barcelona has elevated Joan Garcia to first choice and secured Wojciech Szczesny through 2027, relegating Ter Stegen to third in the goalkeeping hierarchy.
• Persistent injuries and contract terms heighten uncertainty over Ter Stegen’s role at Barça and his prospects with Germany ahead of the 2026 World Cup.