Marc-André ter Stegen and Barcelona have smoothed the waters. © APA/afp / LLUIS GENE

Roll backwards: Ter Stegen again Barca captain

A late truce after the big farce: In the dispute between Marc-André ter Stegen and FC Barcelona, an agreement has been reached that could also pave the way for a competitor to the national goalkeeper.

August 10, 2025

From: dpa

The 33-year-old, who was out for a long time due to an injury, gave in to the dispute with his employer and finally agreed to forward his medical data to the league.

In response to ter Stegen's decision, the Spanish champions dropped the disciplinary proceedings against the German goalkeeper, Barça announced. Furthermore, ter Stegen is once again captain of the team with immediate effect.

Chance for new number one

Should the league, like the club, conclude that ter Stegen will be out for at least four months following his back surgery, his club could register the recently signed Joan García as the Catalans' replacement goalie just in time for the start of the new season. According to Spanish Financial Fair Play rules, only with such a minimum absence period can the club use part of the absent player's salary to register a new player.

The Catalans signed García from Espanyol Barcelona in the summer for around €25 million as their new number one. However, as long as he isn't registered, he's not allowed to play. The Spanish trade paper Mundo Deportivo therefore described the deal as a "truce" for the benefit of all.

Dispute settled after escalation

After his recent back surgery, Ter Stegen himself had spoken in a social media post about being out for only three months. Because the former Gladbach player apparently refused his club permission to submit his injury report to the league's medical committee, a major row erupted.

To put pressure on ter Stegen, coach Hansi Flick's club initiated disciplinary proceedings against the goalkeeper and stripped him of his captaincy. Now there's a reversal.

Ter Stegen's sporting situation at Barça remains questionable: Since the club apparently no longer plans to retain him as a regular, the German national goalkeeper is under considerable pressure one year before the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. "Ultimately, he'll be our number one," national coach Julian Nagelsmann recently said of the 33-year-old – "if he's healthy and the number one at the club."