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Garcia, 24 years old and Espanyol footballer since in 2016 he signed for his quarry from the DAMM, will sign a contract for the next six seasons, until 2031, after the agreement between his representatives and Barça, which will pay him an ‘ascending’ salary and will have his highest amounts in the last two relationship courses.
Specked its incorporation, Barcelona must now resolve the overpopulation of goalkeepers in its template, since Marc-André Ter Stegen said in recent weeks his determination to fulfill his contract that ends in 2028, Wojciech Szczesny is waiting to sign its renewal For another season (plus an optional) and the departure of Iñaki Peña is still not realized, although it is considered the easiest and most close in the offices of the Camp Nou.
The Barca Club entered the race for the signing of Joan Garcia in mid -May, when he met first -hand that his representatives (the same agency that directs Dani Olmo’s destinations) had decided, according to the footballer, to force his exit from Espanyol paying the clause. Barça then understood that the goalkeeper was an “irrevable market opportunity” and immediately probe their availability to sign.
As soon as he knew that Garcia gave his approval to the signing, Barça trusted to reach some type of pact with the Periquito Club to facilitate the operation, but “this route was not opened because Espanyol was never willing to negotiate,” a source of the Barca entity was never willing to negotiate, accelerating the steps to agree on the terms of his contract with the player, knowing that the other proposals he could have on the table should no longer
In fact Newcastle and Aston Villa showed interest, also talking about Manchester City although denialing this Pep Guardiola end in the first person by ensuring that in their staff “we already have Ederson and Ortega.” Barça decided to enter after Hansi Flick and Deco agreed that they would accelerate the matter if that “market opportunity” appeared, that the goal of Espanyol customizes in capital letters.
Garcia was related during the summer of 2024 with the Arsenal, then ready to make his termination clause effective and not formalizing his signing because the goalkeeper himself did not decide to take the step understanding the untouchable position of David Raya in the Gunner team.
This time the scenario has been contemplated differently, because the goal has completed a superb season in Espanyol, turned into the key to its permanence in the First Division and its leap forward was considered unplazable.
And although in Espanyol it does not like anything that its destiny is Barça, the decision was in the hands of the goalkeeper himself, convinced by the sports project that he was presented at the Camp Nou and that made him vary his initial plans, which went to leave for the Premier League.
Mess to solve
Garcia will sign this contract for six seasons waiting for Barça to decide how he resolves his mess in the goal, joining Catalan to Ter Stegen, Iñaki Peña and Wojciech Szczesny. Without forgetting Kochen and Astrálaga, with the subsidiary of the subsidiary and that after the decline of the second team to the fourth category of Spanish football they could, one of them at least, be transferred.
Ter Stegen, 33 and who with 422 games behind him since 2014 is the second goalkeeper with more presences in the Barca club behind Víctor Valdés, keeps a contract for three more courses and said from the concentration of the selection of his country that his intention is to continue in Barça. “I know I will be in Barcelona next year. The rest does not worry,” he summed up, unmarked from the arrival of another goalkeeper.
After injuring during a match in Villarreal in September 2024the until then undisputed Ter Stegen remained For seven months to reappear in Valladolid In early May and resolved to recover the ownership of the next year.
Szczesny still did not officially respond to Barça regarding the continuity offered by the club for one more season, a circumstance that the Polish goalkeeper, 35 years He has known for three months and must define shortly.
For his part, Iñaki Peña subtracts another contract season but after what happened this course, when Flick separated him from ownership without an apparent sporting reason, he is expected to negotiate with the club the termination of this commitment. The 26 -year -old canterano has been related to several First Division clubs and has received three proposals from abroad but ESPN could know that he will not make any decision until his situation with Barcelona.
PROGRESSION
Born in Sallent (Barcelona) in May 2001, Joan García arrived at the Espanyol quarry in the summer of 2016, after going through the lower categories of Manresa and Damm. He debuted in the first blue and white team in December 2021, in a Cup match, although he did not receive dorsal from the first team until the 2022-23 season, being a substitute for Pacheco and Álvaro Fernández.
His progression, silent and discreet, did not explode until advanced last season (2023-24) Manolo González, when he replaced Ramis on the Espanyol bench, dared to give him ownership, being transcendental in the perquisite ascent to the First Division.
The rest is already known. In the summer of 2024 he did not force his march to Arsenal and after an outstanding course, being key in the permanence of Espanyol, his march, through the payment of the clause, he understood safely, contemplating a transfer to the Premier League as the main option.
In fact, it was speculated, and not little, with its signing for the Newcastle that, curiously, was announced as a rival of Espanyol in the next preseason … until Barça appeared on stage.
And the subject is over … although in the environment of Espanyol, even in its bosom, the signing has caused a social scandal as exaggerated as unknown throughout history.
