Barcelona Secure Joan Garcia Signing from Espanyol in €25m Deal

Barcelona have completed the signing of Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol after activating the goalkeeper’s €25 million (£21.3 million) release clause.

The 24-year-old is set to be officially unveiled on Friday and has agreed to a six-year contract with the reigning La Liga champions.

Garcia, who was reportedly on the radar of Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United, chose to continue his career in Spain, committing to a long-term project at the Camp Nou.

A product of Espanyol’s youth system, Garcia made his first-team debut in 2021 and has since amassed 67 appearances. He played a pivotal role in Espanyol’s promotion to La Liga in the 2023–24 season and was a standout performer in their successful bid to avoid relegation, recording a league-high 146 saves.

Although he has yet to feature for Spain’s senior national team, Garcia has represented his country at various youth levels and was part of the squad that clinched Olympic gold in Paris last summer.

Barcelona have been seeking a reliable option to compete with first-choice keeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who missed a significant chunk of last season due to a patella tendon injury sustained in September.

In the German’s absence, veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny came out of retirement to provide cover, making 30 appearances across all competitions and contributing to Barcelona’s La Liga title triumph. However, the former Arsenal shot-stopper’s short-term contract expires at the end of June.