Why Joan Garcia's transfer to Barcelona could plunge the club into yet another crisis

 

Barcelona are on the verge of finalizing the €25 million signing of Joan Garcia from city rivals Espanyol, a deal expected to be announced shortly. Garcia, 24, had a standout 2024/25 La Liga campaign, registering the most saves in the league (146) and impressing with a 73.7% save rate. He also excelled in distribution and sweeper-keeper duties two crucial elements of Barcelona’s playing style. His elite level short-passing accuracy (92.3%) and 95% sweeping success rate make him an ideal modern goalkeeper.

Garcia’s six-year contract would represent a long-term solution for the Catalans. At a reported €3 million salary per season, his transfer is relatively affordable in the long run. Barcelona are likely to benefit from his peak years and secure strong competition for their current options. With his commanding presence, reflexes, and composure, Garcia has all the attributes to be a success at the highest level.

However, his arrival poses significant internal challenges. Barca’s current goalkeeping hierarchy is complicated. The veteran Marc-André ter Stegen, just returning from injury, was reportedly set for a move to Galatasaray. But recent reports suggest the German international is now furious over how he has been treated and might refuse to leave unless his €6.3 million per year contract is paid out. This unexpected turn could jeopardize Barcelona’s wage structure and their ability to register new signings.

If ter Stegen insists on staying at Barcelona, it will severely impact the club’s already fragile financial structure. His annual salary of €6.3 million nearly doubles what Joan Garcia is set to earn, and any hopes of freeing up funds for new signings could be crushed. The situation mirrors the Frenkie de Jong saga, where the club repeatedly tried to offload the Dutch midfielder due to his massive €19 million yearly wage.

In addition to the potential standoff with ter Stegen, Barcelona must now consider the futures of Wojciech Szczesny and Inaki Peña. Szczesny came out of retirement to help the team during ter Stegen’s injury spell and performed reasonably well, but the arrival of Garcia statistically far superior makes his continued presence unlikely. Szczesny's high-profile error in the Benfica match and lower passing stats also weaken his case for staying.

Meanwhile, Inaki Peña, who has been a loyal servant to the club, is likely to be pushed out. Despite making 18 appearances last season, his 66% save percentage and lack of command in the box hurt his chances. With Garcia and ter Stegen both potentially staying, there seems to be no room left for Peña, whose contract expires in 2026. His departure now feels inevitable.

What was meant to be a smooth transition in the goalkeeping department could instead ignite another off-field crisis. Once again, Barcelona’s inability to manage wages, contracts, and succession planning is creating chaos. Though Garcia’s signing looks smart on paper, the ripple effects could plunge the club into yet another period of instability both financially and emotionally. For a team claiming to be “more than a club,” these decisions tell a different story.