Barcelona activate release clause for Joan Garcia with Espanyol goalkeeper to sign on Friday

Barcelona have confirmed they have activated the release clause of Joan Garcia and will sign the goalkeeper from cross-town rivals Espanyol.

The 24-year-old will join the Spanish champions for €25million after opting to leave the club with whom he has played for the past nine years.

Garcia is expected to be first choice under Hansi Flick with Wojciech Szczesny offered the chance to stay on as his number two.

FC Barcelona sign Joan Garcia

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 18, 2025

If the Pole signs a new one-year deal it leaves Marc-Andre ten Stegen in limbo and likely to move on, especially as he looks to cement his place in the Germany squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

I have given everything for Espanyol – Garcia

Garcia, who will sign a six-year deal with Barca on Friday, posted an emotional goodbye to the Espanyol fans on social media this morning.

He said: “The time has come to go our separate ways. Today it’s my turn to say goodbye to the club that has been my home since I was 15 years old. During all this time I have tried to grow every day as a footballer and as a person, always with humility, effort, and the pride of defending the goal of Espanyol.

“I have given everything I had inside to help the team, to represent this badge with maximum dedication and to live up to what it means to wear this shirt. I know that this decision will not be easy for everyone to understand. I’m not asking you to do it. But I do want you to know that it has been a very thoughtful decision, thinking not only about my career but about what’s best for the club, for my family and for me.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the coaches, teammates, staff and all the people who are part of the day-to-day life of the club.”

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