Barcelona have signed goalkeeper Joan García from rivals Espanyol in a €25 million ($28.5m) deal, the Spanish champions announced.
García, 24, has signed a contract until 2031 with Barça and arrives to further strengthen a position which includes Marc-André ter Stegen, Wojciech Szczęsny and Iñaki Peña.
Espanyol would have preferred not to lose García to their cross-city rivals but could do little to prevent the deal as the €25m fee represents the release clause written into the goalkeeper’s contract.
There had also been interest from England, with Premier League clubs Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Bournemouth all linked at various points.
However, City coach Pep Guardiola’s admission that they were happy with the two goalkeepers they have, Éderson and Stefan Ortega, appeared to pave the way for Barça to complete the signing of García.
It remains to be seen how García’s arrival will shake up the goalkeeper position at Barça. Ter Stegen, 33, has been the club’s No. 1 for the last decade but missed much of the past season due to injury and returned to make two appearances at the end of the campaign.
The Germany international has insisted he will remain with Barça beyond the summer despite the signing of García.
Meanwhile, Szczęsny, who came out of retirement to sign for Barça last October when Ter Stegen injured his knee, continues to weigh up an offer to extend his contract, which expires at the end of June.
As for Peña, the youth team graduate, now 26, is expected to leave this summer in search of regular first team football. García, born in Catalonia, joined Espanyol in 2016 and progressed through the club’s academy, eventually making his first team debut in 2021.
He helped Espanyol win promotion to LaLiga in 2024 and featured in all 38 league games this season as his side secured survival on the final day, earning rave reviews for some of his performances along the way, including a 1-0 win over Real Madrid in February.
“I want to congratulate Joan García for the season he has had,” Szczęsny said last month after Barça clinched the LaLiga title with a 2-0 win over Espanyol at RCDE Stadium.
“He is one of the best goalkeepers right now, not just in Spain but across Europe.”
García, who becomes the first Espanyol player to move directly to Barça since Igor Korneev in 1994, limited the comments on his farewell post on Instagram.
“It is time to say goodbye to the club that has been my home since I was 15 years old,” he said.
“I have always given everything I had to help the team and represenedt the badge with the utmost respect and commitment.
“I know it won’t be easy for many to understand this decision, nor do I expect people to, but I want you to know it was a decision I put a lot of thought to, not just thinking about my career, but also about the best for the club, my family and me.
“I leave with a heart full of gratitude. Now a new challenge begins, which I go into with a huge amount of excitement, but also with respect for everything I leave behind.”-ESPN
