33-year-old needs playing time in order to be Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper in the 2026 World Cup
Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen has joined Girona on loan until the end of the season.
The German lost his place as No 1 last season after suffering an injury that forced Hansi Flick to turn to 35-year-old veteran Wojciech Szczesny. The Pole kept him out of the starting XI for the rest of the season and that status was cemented by the signing of Joan Garcia from Espanyol last summer.
Ter Stegen needs playing time in order to be Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper in the 2026 World Cup but he has played only one game for Barcelona this season, the Copa del Rey game against Guadalajara.
There was pressure from the club for the German to leave in the summer but he made the decision to stay. Being in a recovery process from an injury may also have scuppered a move.
After being benched last week against Racing Santander in the same competition the player was finally convinced to seek playing time elsewhere.
Ter Stegen joined Barcelona in 2014 and has made 423 appearances for the club. He has since won six La Liga titles and one Champions League trophy.
