FC Barcelona: FC Barcelona have signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol. The club confirmed it had activated the release clause of 25 million euros to secure his signing. The player will sign a contract with the club for the next six seasons, until June 30, 2031, in a private ceremony at FC Barcelona’s offices on Friday.
Barcelona had signed Wojciech Szczesny, asking him to come out of retirement ahead of the 2025-25 season, and the Polish goalie became the first choice for Hansi Flick between the sticks after captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a serious right knee injury. Garcia can prove to be a solid signing and potentially be the Catalonians' first choice in the years to come.
Born in Sallent de Llobregat, in the Bages region of Catalonia, the new Barca goalkeeper didn’t start between the posts. It wasn’t long before he followed in the footsteps of his older brother and picked up the gloves. That was the beginning of his path toward the elite. After leaving Sallent, he moved to Manresa and then to Damm, until Espanyol signed him at the age of 15.
