Easing tension in the Barça feud:
Barcelona's Goalkeeper Crisis: Ter Stegen Out, García In
Marc-André ter Stegen, the long-serving goalkeeper for FC Barcelona, is currently sidelined due to a back injury that has been classified as a long-term injury by LaLiga’s Medical Committee [3][5]. This ruling has allowed Barcelona to register a replacement goalkeeper while Ter Stegen is out.
The club has signed Joan García from rival Espanyol as Ter Stegen’s potential replacement and has successfully registered him to the squad for the 2025-26 season, including for the upcoming league opener. Barcelona has maneuvered within LaLiga’s financial rules to register García using salary space freed by Ter Stegen's injury [2][5].
Tensions between Ter Stegen and the club, including coach Hansi Flick, had been mounting over the summer. Ter Stegen was informed that he was no longer Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper and was free to find another club [1]. Despite this, he chose to undergo remedial back surgery and has been ruled out for at least four months.
Although Ter Stegen was temporarily stripped of the captaincy amid the dispute, his leadership role was reinstated recently, but his playing status remains affected by injury and the club's decision to prioritize García [4][1].
García, the new goalkeeper, cannot play until he is registered. The resolution of the dispute between Ter Stegen and FC Barcelona has been described as a "truce" that benefits everyone. Julian Nagelsmann, the national team coach, stated that Ter Stegen is their number one "if he is healthy and the number one at his club" [6].
Ter Stegen, in a public statement on Instagram, spoke out for the first time in two weeks. He expressed feelings of misunderstanding and stated that many things said about him were "completely unfounded." Ter Stegen desires to find a common solution regarding his situation at Barcelona [7].
In summary, Ter Stegen is the injured long-term goalkeeper, with back surgery and an expected absence of four months or more. Joan García is FC Barcelona's registered goalkeeper for the current season, intended as Ter Stegen’s replacement during his recovery. The club has maneuvered within LaLiga’s financial rules to register García using salary space freed by Ter Stegen’s injury. Ter Stegen’s relationship with the club and coach has been strained, affecting his playing time despite reinstatement as captain. The standoff between Ter Stegen and FC Barcelona has ended, and Ter Stegen has been reinstated as the team's captain with immediate effect.
During Ter Stegen's absence due to a back injury, FC Barcelona signed Joan García as a replacement goalkeeper and registered him for the European leagues, Laliga, and sports broadcasts on the radio. Despite being absent for at least four months, Ter Stegen remains Barcelona's first-choice goalkeeper, as stated by the national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, implying that García's role is temporary.
