Barcelona Nears €25 Million Agreement for Espanyol Goalkeeper Joan Garcia Amid Arsenal Competition

Barcelona has reached an agreement in principle to sign Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, reportedly activating his €25 million release clause and edging out Premier League clubs like Arsenal, Newcastle, and Aston Villa, as well as European teams Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen. Garcia, 24, played a crucial role in helping Espanyol avoid relegation last season and is expected to decide on his next move soon, with Barcelona planning to loan him out for the 2025/26 season to clubs such as Real Betis or Valencia. Despite Barcelona already having Marc-André ter Stegen as their first-choice goalkeeper, signing Garcia is part of head coach Hansi Flick’s plan to strengthen squad depth after a treble-winning campaign. Separately, Barcelona is awaiting the official written offer from AS Monaco to formalize Ansu Fati’s loan move, which includes a purchase option that Barcelona views favorably compared to his previous loan at Brighton. The club aims to retain a share of any future transfer fee if Monaco signs Fati permanently, reflecting Barcelona’s strategic approach to player development and financial planning. Overall, Barcelona is actively managing its squad by securing promising talent and arranging loans to maintain competitiveness under the new season.