FC Barcelona paid the €25 million release clause on Friday to sign goalkeeper Joan García, who is set to leave Espanyol and join Barça’s first team. According to sources from the club confirmed to EFE, the payment has been made and now they’re just waiting for LaLiga to validate the paperwork before making the move official.

Joan García, 24, who came up through Espanyol’s youth system, will sign a six-year deal through 2031 and becomes Barça’s first reinforcement for the 2025–26 season. His strong performances last season with the blanquiazules had drawn interest from several Premier League clubs, but he ultimately chose to join the Barça project.

Barcelona’s goalkeeper dilemma

García’s arrival stirs up competition in Barcelona’s goalkeeping department, where Marc-André ter Stegen and Iñaki Peña are under contract until 2028 and 2026, respectively. Veteran Wojciech Szczęsny, who was signed as a short-term solution after Ter Stegen’s injury, also has a one-year renewal offer on the table.

Despite missing a large part of last season due to injury, Ter Stegen has made it clear he wants to remain the starter, which could clash with the club’s plan to give more playing time to Joan García, who is seen as a long-term bet for the position.

A standout season at Espanyol

According to BeSoccer Pro, Joan García made the most saves in LaLiga last season (146), beating out names like Sergio Herrera (Osasuna) and Augusto Batalla (Rayo Vallecano). He also faced the most shots on target (197), underlining how important he was in helping Espanyol stay in the top flight.

Leaving the club’s local rival wasn’t an easy decision. Figures like head coach Manolo González had doubts about whether García would make the jump. But the Barça project won him over, making him one of the first big moves of the summer transfer window for Barcelona.