FC Barcelona has confirmed the signing of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia. This was a long-awaited signing as FC Barcelona were chasing his signature for a long time now. To know more, read the article given below:
Joan Garcia to Barcelona:
Many fans believe that he is the missing part in Barcelona’s star-studded squad, which had performed wonders last season. Joan Garcia is a young goalkeeper (born in 2001) and is a great shot-stopper. He made his La Liga debut in 2022 and also helped relegated Espanyol climb back to the First Division of Spanish football.
His breakout moment came in the 2024/25 season, in which he played all 38 matches and managed to keep a total of 8 clean sheets in a weak team like Espanyol. His save percentage was around 75%, which is quite above other keepers in the league, and due to his performances, he managed to keep Espanyol afloat and saved them from getting relegated.
Transfer fee and wages:
FC Barcelona have paid the release clause of Joan Garcia, which is said to be about 25 million euros, to get his signature
Talking about his wages, it is rumoured that Joan Garcia would be earning a total of £3 million per annum, and with bonuses, this amount could go up to around £5 million.
Another aspect of this signing is the fact that both clubs are fierce rivals, and it would be the first time since 1994 that an Espanyol player directly moved to FC Barcelona.
Who will be the first-choice keeper at FC Barcelona?
After the signing of Joan Garcia, many Barça fans are in a dilemma because nobody is sure who will become the first-choice goalkeeper for the Blaugranas. FC Barcelona currently has 4 goalkeepers that are in contention for the starting spot- Ter Stegen, Pena, Szczesny, and now Joan Garcia.
It is rumoured that Ter Stegen would be departing the club after 10 years at Barcelona as he wishes to be the starting goalkeeper for Germany in the 2026 World Cup.
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