Barcelona goalkeeper Szczesny has set a specific term for committing to his future with the club.
Barcelona Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to Renew Contract with Secondary Role Clause
Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has agreed to extend his stay at Barcelona for two more years, with a unique condition in his contract, according to reports from Goal Poland and Sport. The 35-year-old, who came out of retirement to join Barcelona, has stipulated in the deal that he will only sign on a permanent basis if he is guaranteed a secondary role starting from the 2025/26 season.
Szczesny's decision comes at a time when Barcelona's long-time first-choice goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, is recovering from injury and aiming to return to the starting lineup. With Ter Stegen set to resume his duties, Barcelona views Szczesny's role as shifting to a backup or supportive position from next season onwards.
Since joining Barcelona, Szczesny has established himself as a reliable starter, making 30 appearances in the current season and conceding 36 goals across all competitions. He served the team led by Hansi Flick.
If Ter Stegen resumes his role as the first-choice goalkeeper, Szczesny has the option to reassess his future at the end of the 2025/26 season and potentially retire. This contractual arrangement also presents flexibility for Barcelona in planning their goalkeeping options for the future. The club will need to decide whether to pursue new goalkeeping signings now or wait until after Szczesny's potential departure.
[Source: Goal Poland, Sport]
Szczesny's new contract, set to begin in the 2025/26 season, guarantees him a secondary role in Barcelona's sports team, specifically the European-leagues football squad, as he had requested. Despite his current success as a starter for the team, this role might be due to the expected return of Marc-André ter Stegen from injury.
