Barcelona Signs Goalkeeper Joan García from Espanyol for €25 Million

Barcelona has stunned the football world by signing goalkeeper Joan García from city rivals Espanyol for €25 million — the first direct transfer between the clubs since 1994.

The arrival of the 24-year-old García creates competition with first-choice goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen — who has been Barcelona’s mainstay for the past nine seasons.

Last season, García impressed at Espanyol with the best statistics in LaLiga — 145 saves with a 73.6% success rate and 8.4 goals prevented.

“I want to praise García. I think he’s been the best goalkeeper in LaLiga this season and he has a great future ahead of him,” stated Wojciech Szczesny, Barcelona’s current goalkeeper.

Ter Stegen, now 33, has affirmed his desire to stay at the club:

“I know I will be at Barcelona next season.”

Barcelona now has four goalkeepers in their squad — García, ter Stegen, Szczesny, and Peña — a situation that will likely force some changes in the club’s goalkeeper hierarchy.