A FC Barcelona Player Chooses to Leave the Club in January

FC Barcelona has announced that they are not planning to make any signings this winter. The Catalan club continues to face challenges in registering players, with only loan deals, such as Marcus Rashford’s, potentially helping them strengthen their squad. However, departures seem likely, starting with German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who is 33 years old. Sport reports that ter Stegen has decided to leave Barça in the upcoming winter transfer window, largely driven by his desire to be part of the 2026 World Cup. While no interested clubs have been named, this news follows recent events involving ter Stegen in Spain.

Ter Stegen joined Barcelona in 2014 from Borussia Mönchengladbach. He was a key player until the end of the 2023/2024 season, but the 2024/2025 season has been tough for him, marked by a significant knee injury. This seven-month absence forced Barça to bring Wojciech Szczęsny out of retirement. Currently, ter Stegen is facing back issues that required surgery in July, with a four to five-month recovery period anticipated, leading to conflicts between the player and the club. He refused to sign off on the medical report, prompting Barça to strip him of the captaincy and his jersey number.

Ter Stegen’s Future at Barcelona Looks Uncertain

Amidst this tense situation, ter Stegen felt compelled to speak out. “These past months have been particularly difficult for me, both physically and personally. Like any player, my priority after an injury has always been to return to the pitch as quickly as possible, motivated solely by the desire to help the team and do what I love most: play and compete. The decision to undergo surgery was made in consultation with medical professionals and with the club’s full agreement, always prioritizing my health and long-term career, which aligns with FC Barcelona’s objectives of having me back on the field quickly to continue winning trophies. Additionally, I publicly communicated the minimum recovery time as advised by leading experts, in coordination with the club.”

Since then, relations between the goalkeeper and Barça have improved. On August 8, ter Stegen finally signed the medical report allowing the registration of goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who was acquired last summer as the future number one. While the tensions have eased, ter Stegen understands that his future at Barça is now uncertain. Will the 33-year-old attract interest when he hits the market? Earlier this month, Sport mentioned that three English clubs (Newcastle, Tottenham, Manchester United) and a Ligue 1 team (Monaco) are interested. Stay tuned for developments.