Barcelona have officially signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol, activating his €25 million release clause. The 24-year-old will join the Spanish champions on a six-year contract, starting this Friday.

Joan Garcia's Career Highlights

• Debut for Espanyol: 2021
• Total Appearances: 67
• Promotion to La Liga: 2023-24 season
• Key Performance: Most saves (146) in La Liga last season

Why Barcelona Chose Garcia

Barcelona is looking to bolster their goalkeeping options, especially with Marc-Andre ter Stegen recovering from a ruptured patella tendon that sidelined him for most of last season. Garcia's impressive performance in La Liga and his role in helping Espanyol secure their top-flight status made him a prime target.

International Experience

Although Garcia has yet to earn a senior cap for Spain, he has represented the country at various age-group levels and was part of the gold medal-winning Olympic team in Paris 2024.

Competition and Future Prospects

Garcia will provide much-needed competition for Ter Stegen, ensuring depth and quality in the goalkeeping department. This move also follows the expiration of Wojciech Szczesny's short-term deal, who came out of retirement to cover for Ter Stegen last season.

Related Topics

• Spanish La Liga
• Barcelona
• European Football
• Football Transfers

For more updates, listen to the latest Football Daily podcast.