FC Barcelona issued a club statement concerning goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen’s health status on Wednesday.
The announcement also provided an update on the registration status of goalkeeper Joan García, who the club signed from RCD Espanyol this summer.
“FC Barcelona hereby announces that LaLiga’s Medical Committee has ruled that goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury meets the long-term injury criteria established by current regulations,” the statement read. “The club will proceed tomorrow to immediately formalise the registration of player Joan García.”
The LaLiga’s Medical Committee’s assessment of ter Stegen’s injury concludes a tumultuous saga that, over the past few months, had tested the relationship between club and player.
It began in July, when ter Stegen and the German national team were competing in the semifinals of the UEFA Nations League. At the conclusion of the tournament, ter Stegen reported that he had begun to experience pain in his back, with surgery being an option that would put him out for multiple months.
Had Barcelona been able to prove with his ter Stegen’s medical records that he would miss four months or more, the club could use some of his salary to open up the door to registering more players. Naturally, García, a player at the same position, would be the first of Barcelona’s summer signings to register.
But ter Stegen initially refused to have his medical records disclosed. The club retaliated by stripping ter Stegen of his captaincy and opening disciplinary proceedings, which were quickly resolved when he publicly agreed to collaborate with the club when it came to his medical status.
While the loss of ter Stegen —a six-time La Liga champion and former winner of the Zamora Trophy who has appeared in nearly 300 competitive matches for the club — may sting in the months to come, being able to register Garcia is another step towards alleviating the pressure Barcelona’s board faces as it looks to get its squad ready for the 2025-26 season.
