Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has completed a loan move to fellow LaLiga club Girona for the remainder of the season, as confirmed by both clubs.
The 33-year-old goalkeeper departs Barça to seek more consistent playing time, having fallen behind Joan García in the selection at Spotify Camp Nou.
He made the final decision last week, particularly after he was benched for the Copa del Rey match against Racing Santander, leading him to believe that playing opportunities would be limited.
After returning from a back injury sustained in December, it is crucial for Ter Stegen to gain match experience ahead of the upcoming summer World Cup, as he aims to secure a spot in Germany‘s squad.
His transfer to Girona not only offers him a chance to play but also allows him to remain near his children in Barcelona, with Girona located just 100km from the Catalan capital.
At Girona, which has won four of its last five matches to rise from the relegation zone into the top 10 of LaLiga, Ter Stegen will compete for the starting position with Paulo Gazzaniga.
Ter Stegen joined Barça from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014 and has since made 423 appearances, winning an impressive 19 trophies, including six LaLiga titles and one Champions League.
However, since Hansi Flick took charge at the start of the 2024-25 season, he has only played in 10 matches.
Ter Stegen missed most of the previous season due to a knee injury and has only recently returned after undergoing back surgery last summer.
In the meantime, Barça has acquired both García, whom Flick has consistently identified as his top choice, and Wojciech Szczesny, who is positioned to be García’s backup.