A move might suit both Ter Stegen and Barcelona this summer, but it is still unclear which direction the player is headed
Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen could finally call time on his decade-long spell at the club, with reports even suggesting he has already agreed personal terms with Turkish champions Galatasaray.
The 33-year-old goalkeeper suffered an early-season injury in the 2024-25 campaign and was replaced by Inaki Pena and later Wojciech Szczesny, both of whom impressed in his absence.
Upon returning to full fitness, Ter Stegen expected to reclaim his starting position but was left frustrated when Hansi Flick chose to stick with Szczesny. The player then made the decision to remain in Barcelona rather than travel with the squad after being left out of the team to face Inter Milan. It caused tensions that worsened his relationship with Flick.
Barcelona’s move to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol appears to have sealed Ter Stegen’s fate, with the player now much more unlikely to reclaim his No 1 role.
Barcelona want the player to leave, as he occupies significant space on the club’s salary bill but is surplus to requirements. However, the player has a contract until 2028, which means that any exit will largely come down to his decision.
According to some reports from Turkey, Galatasaray have already reached an agreement with the German shot-stopper on personal terms and are exploring options with Barcelona, including a low-fee transfer or an initial loan with an option to buy.
But this is still unclear, especially as word from other angles is that he is not Galatasaray’s first choice. The Turkish club will reportedly only consider moving for Ter Stegen if there is no deal to be done for Chelsea’s Djordje Petrovic.
