Barcelona on Wednesday confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol on a six-year contract, activating his €25 million ($28.75 million) release clause.
Garcia, 24, leaves his boyhood club after a stellar 2024-25 season where he led LaLiga with 146 saves and played every minute of the campaign.
His arrival provides crucial competition for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who missed much of last season due to knee surgery, and replaces the temporary services of veteran Wojciech Szczesny, who was coaxed out of retirement for their treble-winning run.
The transfer marks a significant move between the cross-town rivals, with Barcelona dominating last season’s LaLiga and Espanyol finishing 14th.
Garcia bid farewell to Espanyol fans in a video on social media.
