The Critical Obstacle Standing Between ter Stegen and His Ajax Transfer

Marc-André ter Stegen appeared poised to finalize a loan move to Ajax just days ago, but a significant obstacle in the form of financial complications reportedly brought the operation to a standstill, pushing Barcelona to devise a fresh approach to salvage the transfer.

Barcelona and Ajax reached an agreement in principle that would send the 34-year-old goalkeeper to the Dutch club on a season-long loan in the opening days of July. All sides had signed off on the deal, and the transfer seemed just formalities—such as a medical examination—away from completion.

However, as days went by, the move came to an abrupt stop. The clubs' agreement on how to split Ter Stegen's wages remains intact. Yet complications emerged between Barcelona and the goalkeeper over the German's tax liabilities.

Resolving these financial matters has proven far more complex than initially anticipated, throwing the transfer off course in recent weeks. Ter Stegen is still eager to join the Dutch club, but his inability to resolve or gain clarity on his own tax obligations has become a major stumbling block.

Barcelona Submit New Offer To Unlock Ter Stegen's Move to Ajax

In a bid to revive a move that once seemed straightforward but turned out to be anything but, Barcelona have recently put forward a revised counter-proposal that could address the tax-related issues complicating his departure, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Barcelona have reportedly made minor adjustments to the financial terms of the loan arrangement concerning the player's wages in order to ease the tax complications that surfaced. The experienced goalkeeper responded positively to the revised terms.

Ajax remain engaged and are still waiting for Ter Stegen's arrival, even though the financial hurdles that stalled the move came as an unexpected development for the Eredivisie side.

Ajax will reportedly contribute 10% of Ter Stegen's substantial salary, amounting to roughly $2.2 million (€2 million). Barcelona will cover the remainder, with the goalkeeper also agreeing to forgo a portion of his wages.

The arrangement closely mirrors the deal Ter Stegen had with Girona in the second half of the 2025–26 season, but with two notable distinctions. First, the salary-split agreement between the clubs is variable based on the German's playing time at Ajax, as the Dutch side wants to avoid paying the full amount should Ter Stegen suffer another injury similar to the one that limited him to just one appearance during his time at Girona.

Secondly, since Ter Stegen would be receiving payments from clubs in two different countries, he would face tax obligations in both Spain and the Netherlands.

Ter Stegen's Move to Ajax a Win For All Parties

Despite the unforeseen difficulties and setbacks surrounding Ter Stegen's loan to Ajax, all parties involved remain willing to push the deal through, which is why the move hasn't fallen apart entirely.

Joan García has firmly established himself as Barcelona's first-choice goalkeeper since arriving last summer, and for a club that must carefully manage every dollar, keeping Ter Stegen—one of the highest-paid players on the roster—as a backup simply doesn't add up financially.

For Ter Stegen, a move to Ajax represents an opportunity to secure regular playing time and revive his career. Between injuries and a dip in form, the 34-year-old has featured in just 12 matches at club level over the past two seasons. Remaining at Barcelona would mean a third consecutive season with minimal or no playing time.

Ajax's new head coach, Míchel, was in charge of Girona last season and was the driving force behind Ter Stegen's mid-season loan. The German had been expected to serve as the now-relegated club's starting goalkeeper through the end of the campaign before his most recent injury. Nevertheless, the Spanish tactician is keen on having Ter Stegen as his number one during his debut season at the Dutch club.

Ter Stegen is currently training with Barcelona in the early stages of the club's preseason, and the possibility of him joining the squad on their preseason tour in the United Kingdom has not been ruled out. Ajax have already kicked off their season with a match against Serbian side Vojvodina in the Conference League Playoffs.

While the ideal outcome would have seen Ter Stegen link up with Ajax several weeks ago, there remains cautious optimism that the deal could be wrapped up in the early days of August at the soonest.