Marc-André ter Stegen close to Barca exit after agreement with European big club
Marc-André ter Stegen faces an uncertain future at Barcelona, and the chances of a summer exit are increasing.
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The imminent arrival of Joan García will transform ter Stegen into third choice as a goalkeeper, with Wojciech Szczęsny already ahead of him in the hierarchy. This means very few playing opportunities in the 2025/26 season, unless injuries or suspensions come into play.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, ter Stegen needs regular playing time to secure his place as Germany’s first goalkeeper. Barcelona are hoping this will push him towards a transfer – and recent reports suggest that this will be the outcome.
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Galatasaray deal in place
In recent days, Galatasaray have shown concrete interest. According to Fanatik, the parties have now reached an agreement on personal terms.
The Turkish club needs a new first goalkeeper after Fernando Muslera’s departure, and ter Stegen tops the wish list. However, they will only consider a signing if Barcelona allow him to leave for free – which is not the Catalans’ first choice, even if they do save three years’ salary for one of the team’s highest-paid players.
Transfer strategy
Galatasaray want to save transfer fees in order to offer ter Stegen a higher salary. Barcelona can accept a free transfer, but will probably have to negotiate a compensation scheme with the 33-year-old to secure his departure this summer.
The situation underlines Barcelona’s need to rationalise the wage base, while ter Stegen is prioritising playing time before a World Cup on home soil.
