Ter Stegen set for shock Girona loan move as Barça agree deal
Barcelona and Girona have reached an agreement for Marc-André ter Stegen to join the Catalan neighbours on loan until the end of the season.
Barcelona’s German goalkeeper is packing his bags for a short trip up the road, with the two Catalan clubs agreeing terms on a loan deal until June 30th.
Deal details
Marc-André ter Stegen is set to become a Girona player in the coming hours after Barcelona and their Catalan neighbours reached an agreement over a loan move. The paperwork is now being prepared for signatures, with the German expected to be available for Míchel’s side as soon as this weekend’s La Liga fixture.
Barça will continue to shoulder most of the financial burden, covering the majority of ter Stegen’s €17 million annual salary, as Girona simply couldn’t afford those wages on their books.
Racing to the exit
The German shot-stopper made his decision to leave the Camp Nou following Barcelona’s Copa del Rey match against Racing Santander. When Hansi Flick opted to start Joan García between the sticks, the writing was on the wall for ter Stegen - crystal clear that he’d fallen down the pecking order.
After seeing García get the nod, ter Stegen informed the club of his desire to leave and specifically requested they negotiate a loan move to Girona until the end of the season.
Prague plans in doubt
Ter Stegen’s immediate future remains slightly unclear regarding Barcelona’s upcoming trip to Prague. Logic suggests he won’t travel with the squad given the imminent completion of his loan move, but the final decision rests with Flick. The squad list will be announced Tuesday morning before the team departs.
This move represents quite the coup for Girona, who continue their impressive rise by adding a goalkeeper with Champions League pedigree to their ranks as they push for European qualification this season.