Barcelona have completed the signing of Joan García from local rivals Espanyol, marking their first major move of the summer transfer window.
As reported by Bein Sport, the Catalan giants have secured the 24-year-old goalkeeper in a deal valued at €26.34 million. García has penned a long-term contract that will keep him at the club until 2031.
This acquisition is head coach Hansi Flick’s first reinforcement since guiding Barcelona to an impressive domestic treble last season, clinching the LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup titles.
García is set to be officially presented on Friday at Barcelona’s headquarters. He joins an already competitive goalkeeping department that includes Marc-André ter Stegen, Wojciech Szczęsny, and Iñaki Peña.
Hailing from Sallent, just outside Barcelona, García had a standout 2024–25 LaLiga season, catching the eye with his consistent displays.
His footballing journey began at local clubs Sallent, Manresa, and Damm before joining Espanyol’s youth setup at the age of 15.
A regular feature in Spain’s youth national teams, García was also part of the squad that clinched gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Though he made his senior debut for Espanyol in 2021, it wasn’t until the 2023–24 campaign, which saw Espanyol earn promotion back to LaLiga, that García cemented his place as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
In the recently concluded season, he emerged as one of the league’s top performers between the sticks, leading all goalkeepers in total saves (145) and goals prevented, based on advanced metrics.
His form sparked interest from several elite clubs across Europe, but Barcelona acted quickly to bring him on board.
The move, however, has not gone down well with Espanyol fans, who are disheartened to see a homegrown talent cross over to their fiercest rivals.
García will now set his sights on helping Barcelona defend their LaLiga crown and mount a serious push for UEFA Champions League glory next season.
The Blaugrana came heartbreakingly close to reaching the Champions League final this past season, only to concede a stoppage-time goal against Inter Milan that leveled the second leg at 3-3.
The game then extended into extra time, where Inter netted the decisive goal in the first half to secure a 4-3 win on the night and a 7-6 aggregate triumph.