Mystery Club Eyes Shock January Swoop for Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Barcelona skipper Marc-André ter Stegen may be approaching his final period with the Catalan giants, though he might not need to venture far for his next destination as speculation suggests that neighboring Catalan side Girona have set their sights on the German shot-stopper.
Ter Stegen was sidelined for the initial four months of the season following back surgery during the summer break. While he has now recovered completely and made his seasonal debut in Barcelona's Copa Del Rey victory against Guadalajara, he finds himself as Hansi Flick's third choice goalkeeper, positioned behind first-choice Joan García and second-string Wojciech Szczęsny.
Various Spanish media outlets report that regional rivals Girona have already approached Barcelona regarding Ter Stegen's availability. Despite being an ambitious pursuit for a team currently battling relegation in La Liga, Girona are reportedly prepared to exhaust all options to secure the transfer.
Girona require goalkeeping reinforcement following Croatian international Dominik Livaković's agreement to rejoin Dinamo Zagreb. With Ter Stegen needing regular playing time to strengthen his Germany 2026 World Cup prospects and Barcelona seeking to reduce their salary expenses, the transfer appears mutually beneficial.
Ter Stegen Would Only Join Girona on Loan
Similar to numerous La Liga clubs including Barcelona, financial fair play restrictions and La Liga's notorious 1:1 regulation severely limit Girona's transfer market flexibility. Consequently, the only viable method for Ter Stegen to join would be through a temporary loan deal.
Adding further complexity, Girona cannot afford Ter Stegen's complete wages. The German reportedly earns approximately €15 million ($17.6 million) annually, substantially exceeding Girona's current highest-paid player.
Barcelona would need to subsidize a significant portion of Ter Stegen's wages to make his Girona move realistic. Ter Stegen himself might consider reducing his salary to facilitate the transfer, similar to how Dominik Livaković did when joining Girona last summer after Fenerbahçe acquired former Manchester City keeper Ederson as their number one.
Ter Stegen has previously been reluctant to accept wage reductions, but the prospect of securing regular minutes just months before the 2026 World Cup might alter his position.
Nothing is confirmed at this stage with the January transfer window yet to commence. However, a potential Ter Stegen departure from Barcelona after more than years with the club has never seemed more likely.