How Joan Garcia’s Move to Barcelona Might Trigger a New Crisis for the Club

As of this writing, FC Barcelona have not yet officially confirmed the acquisition of goalkeeper Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol on a six-year deal, although an announcement is anticipated imminently.

Upon arriving at El Prat airport in Barcelona, the young keeper caught the attention of vigilant journalists. “I’m already home,” he beamed. “I’m delighted to be back from holiday; it was a fantastic time. Now I’m here, at home.” Understandably, he kept the rest of the details close to his chest.

LaLiga has confirmed that the custodian’s €25 million release clause has been activated, and soon the impressive 24-year-old—who was courted by Arsenal last year—will join the ranks of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inaki Pena, and Wojciech Szczesny as part of Barcelona’s goalkeeping contingent.

Barcelona’s interest in Garcia comes as no surprise.

Record-Breaking Saves in LaLiga 2024/25

Garcia’s tally of 146 saves in the Spanish top-flight during the 2024/25 season topped the league, with an impressive save percentage of 73.7% to boot.

He successfully executed 19 accurate sweeps out of 20 attempted, achieving a remarkable 95% success rate in that aspect. His distribution from the back, particularly through short passes—an area Barcelona heavily relies on—was also elite at 92.3%.

With 1,256 possession passes, Garcia exemplified just how engaged he was defensively for Los Periquitos. Despite a generally disappointing season for the team, he leaves with his head held high.

Barcelona is likely poised to witness the best years of Garcia’s career, and barring injuries, he is expected to be a key figure for at least another decade. For essentially €2.5 million a year in transfer fees, should he remain with the club until the 2035/36 season, Barca would secure an absolute steal.

Possessing remarkable reflexes and a commanding presence in his area, Garcia embodies all the qualities needed for a modern goalkeeper to succeed at the top level.

However, his arrival could soon complicate matters.

Could Ter Stegen Stay at Barcelona?

There have been reports suggesting that Ter Stegen had reached a personal agreement with Galatasaray, but significant Spanish sources indicate that he is so disgruntled with the way he has been treated—having just returned from an extended injury—that he may now insist on staying put or demand that his entire contract be honoured for him to leave.

This situation means Barcelona may not be able to offload Ter Stegen’s €6.3 million annual salary (by contrast, Garcia’s is expected to be only €3 million), which will naturally impact the club’s transfer strategies and their ability to sign new talent.

If this unfolds, it recalls the recent circumstances with Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfielder has consistently been a pivotal part of the Barcelona squad, yet his hefty €19 million yearly salary—agreed upon by the previous management—has significantly contributed to the club’s previous attempts to offload him during transfer windows.

It’s truly remarkable that the first-team squad has recently risen from the ashes and came close to achieving an unprecedented third treble of league, cup, and Champions League trophies, especially when considering the financial obstacles they face.

What’s Next for Wojciech Szczesny?

Joan Laporta, Deco, and Hansi Flick face immediate challenges should Ter Stegen follow through with his insistence to remain and compete for his position. This situation will also have implications for Wojciech Szczesny.

The Polish keeper performed reasonably well in Ter Stegen’s absence last season, coming out of retirement to help Barcelona during a time of need.

Despite a couple of high-profile mistakes—who could forget his blunder in the Benfica match?—Szczesny managed a flawless 100% record for keeper sweeps and also held a perfect record for saves made from outside the box.

In total, he recorded 38 saves in 22 matches, none of which resulted in defeat. While this is commendable, it pales in comparison to Garcia’s statistics, especially considering the more attacking nature of Barcelona’s play compared to Espanyol, who fought relegation and heavily relied on their goalkeeper.

Additionally, his 87.5% pass completion rate, while decent, still trails behind Garcia’s numbers.

Is There Room for Inaki Pena at Barcelona?

What about Inaki Pena, the 26-year-old who has been with the club for several years and has acted as a reliable deputy for Ter Stegen during previous injuries?

It appears increasingly likely that he will depart the club this summer rather than remain to serve as a backup for another season before his contract expires in summer 2026.

Pena might justifiably feel aggrieved at how he has been sidelined; he made 18 appearances last season but posted a disappointing save percentage of only 66%.

While Pena boasts a 100% record for sweeps, his command of the area doesn’t quite match that of Garcia.

Pena’s loyalty to the club is commendable, but sentimentality can’t play a role in football decisions. Apart from a few standout performances—most notably during the memorable 4-0 victory against Real Madrid—Pena has not consistently shone, and this has ultimately hindered his prospects.

The evolution of the goalkeeping position seems inevitable. However, for a club like Barcelona, which prides itself on the ethos of being ‘Más que un club’ and operating differently, the prevalent approach to player management leaves much to be desired.