Barcelona’s strategy to address the goalkeeping role for the 2025/26 season – report | OneFootball

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have made a firm decision regarding their goalkeeping plans for the 2025/26 season, and that plan no longer involves Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Despite the German goalkeeper recently stating that both he and Inaki Pena have contracts secured for next season, the reality at the club paints a different picture.

As such, Barcelona’s vision for the future between the sticks centres around Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny.

While Ter Stegen remains under contract, he has effectively been ruled out of the long-term plans, and the club is now moving forward with a new strategy under Hansi Flick.

The new blueprint: Garcia and Szczesny

At just 24 years old, Garcia is seen as the long-term solution, someone with top-flight experience.

Barça are awaiting a definitive response to their contract offer, which has been on the table for several days, and all signs point to Garcia accepting.

Alongside him, Szczesny brings the kind of experience that can ease the transition while offering a safe pair of hands.

Barcelona want to retain Wojciech Szczesny. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The Pole is expected to join on a one-year deal, with the option of extending for a second season. His signing is considered all but official and could be confirmed in the coming days.

Together, the Garcia-Szczesny pairing offers both immediate reliability and long-term potential, a balance that aligns perfectly with Flick’s desire for stability and progression.

What it means for Ter Stegen

While Ter Stegen still sees himself as a capable starter, both at Barcelona and for Germany in the 2026 World Cup, the club no longer views him as the first-choice option moving forward.

The fact that the club has not yet held formal talks with the German about his future suggests they are waiting for final confirmation from Garcia and Szczesny before addressing Ter Stegen’s status directly.

It has become increasingly clear that if Ter Stegen wants to guarantee minutes and maintain his World Cup ambitions, he will need to explore options elsewhere, and for that, the door for an exit is quietly being left open.