Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is about to leave Barcelona. © APA/afp / JOSEP LAGO

Loan until summer: Ter Stegen close to a move

According to media information, a loan of national football goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen from FC Barcelona to league rival FC Girona for half a year is imminent.

16 January 2026

From: dpa/det

This was reported by, among others, the Spanish newspaper Sports world as well as the pay-TV channel Sky. According to the Sports world Barcelona still pays 90 percent of ter Stegen's salary, with Girona covering the remainder. The 33-year-old ter Stegen reportedly does not want to travel with Barça to San Sebastián for Sunday's match, provided the club agrees, the newspaper further reports.

The former Gladbach player hopes that the transfer will give him more playing time so that he can be the number one goalkeeper for the German national team at the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Ter Stegen is expected to move to Girona. © ANSA / Enric Fontcuberta

Girona's coach Míchel, whose team has the weakest defense in the league, had already raved about ter Stegen last month. "He's a top player. What club wouldn't want a goalkeeper like ter Stegen?" the coach said about ter Stegen.

That's why ter Stegen has no chance at FC Barcelona

Ter Stegen returned to the FC Barcelona goal in mid-December for the first time in around seven months, following back surgery, in the cup match against third-division side CD Guadalajara. However, coach Hansi Flick had made it clear that Joan Garcia, signed for €25 million in the summer, would remain the number one goalkeeper for the Catalan club.

A transfer is virtually inevitable for ter Stegen if he wants to be the number one goalkeeper at the World Cup. National coach Julian Nagelsmann recently emphasized this: "Marc either has to establish himself in Barcelona or find a club where he plays."

Especially since ter Stegen's replacement in the German national team, Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann, impressed during the successful World Cup qualifiers in recent months. A possible comeback for Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer has also been repeatedly discussed in the media. However, the now 39-year-old himself had already ruled out a return to the German national team after his retirement following the 2024 European Championship on home soil.