National soccer goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is leaving FC Barcelona and moving to league rivals FC Girona on loan for six months. Both clubs announced this.
The 33-year-old, who lost his regular place at the leaders of the Spanish Primera División, wants to use the move to increase his chances of playing at the World Cup in the summer in the USA, Canada and Mexico (June 11th to July 19th).
Ter Stegen came from his hometown of Mönchengladbach in 2014 Barcelona changed. He was a great support there for years and has been team captain since 2024. Before this season, a knee injury and back surgery set the goalkeeper back.
Ter Stegen has “mixed feelings”
Ter Stegen wrote on Instagram that he had “mixed feelings” and reflected on his twelve years at Barcelona: he was “deeply grateful and proud.” Now he is very much looking forward to “what lies ahead of me”.
The transfer had been in the making for weeks, and Ter Stegen was missing on Tuesday barças Champions League squad for Wednesday’s game in Prague. Late in the afternoon, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick confirmed the change at a press conference, and a few hours later both clubs reported its completion.
Ter Stegen is a “fantastic goalkeeper,” said Flick. A different decision was made for the “future of the club,” “and I think that was the right decision.”
Girona has the weakest defense in the league
Ter Stegen has only appeared once in the cup this season – far too little for his World Cup ambitions. “Of course he has to play in the second half of the season,” DFB sports director Rudi Völler recently confirmed. Ter Stegen took over the position in goal for the German national team after Manuel Neuer’s resignation. In his absence, Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann rose to temporary number one.
Ter Stegen’s new club Girona is currently eleventh. In 20 games there were six wins and eight defeats. 34 goals conceded means the weakest defense in La Liga. Last season Girona played in the Champions League.
