Joan García is now registered in LaLiga and will be the new starting goalkeeper for Barça

Joan García is now officially part of the first team of FC Barcelona in LaLiga. After weeks of procedures and nervousness, the Medical Commission of the competition gave the green light to his registration thanks to the long-term absence of Marc-André ter Stegen. The Catalan goalkeeper will be able to make his debut immediately under the orders of Hansi Flick.

Joan García is now officially a Barça player in LaLiga

FC Barcelona can breathe, at least for now, with a relief that smells of successful bureaucratic procedure: Joan García is now registered in LaLiga. The young goalkeeper from Sallent, without a number but with a valid contract, will be available to debut this Saturday against Mallorca. What seemed like a financial puzzle ended up being a precise surgical operation: taking advantage of 80% of the salary of an injured player to sign his replacement.

The key name in the matter is Marc-André ter Stegen, the German who will not return until after the winter. His absence opened a crack, but also a legal window: by exceeding four months of medical leave, LaLiga allowed Barça to free up salary space and cover the goal without breaking the piggy bank... or not more than it already is.

The process that allowed his registration

The sequence was textbook —of that manual that only the accountants of indebted clubs understand:

1. Medical report certified by the Medical Commission of LaLiga.

2. Authorization to release salary: up to 80% of Ter Stegen's salary.

3. Express registration of Joan García until the end of the season.

While it was debated whether to also include other players using guarantees, sponsors and even the smoke from the VIP seats of the Spotify Camp Nou, Joan's file flew without turbulence. After all, it was protected by a long-term leave. And in this type of procedure, the misfortune of others is the best ally.

Marcus Rashford, pending final validation from LaLiga

Although Marcus Rashford is not yet officially registered, FC Barcelona has already completed all the necessary procedures for his registration. The club hopes that LaLiga will validate his incorporation in time for the English striker to make his debut in the first game of the season.

What does Joan García bring to Barça?

Behind the name there is more than a token: there are feline reflexes, cold blood in penalties and a leadership that does not tremble in the face of the spotlight. Joan García is not Ter Stegen, nor does he pretend to be. But he's not a patch either. He is a modern, agile goalkeeper with personality, and —something increasingly rare— with hunger. At 24 years old, he promises more than a temporary solution.

His technical profile fits well with Hansi Flick's philosophy:

• Feline reflexes: ideal for high-voltage scenarios.

• Aerial dominance: just what Barça has lacked in recent seasons.

• Communication and character: a silent but forceful organizer.

• Good footwork: without being Ter Stegen, he is not clumsy either.

• Solid statistics: more than 74% of shots saved in his last season.

Like young wines, he has not yet reached his ceiling, but he is already intoxicating with the future.

An immediate debut and a promising ovation

The great ovation that Joan García received during the Gamper was more than courtesy. It was a sign of popular approval. And that's no small thing. Hansi Flick is clear: the former Espanyol player starts as a starter. The goal is no longer a problem. Or at least, not an urgent one.

Now, with the registration completed, Barça can make a move in another direction: the departure of Iñaki Peña, who until a few days ago was the only goalkeeper with a number.

The signings that are still waiting

While Joan already appears on the LaLiga website, other names remain trapped in financial limbo. Rashford, Szczesny, Roony Bardghji, Gerard martín, Marc Bernal... all in different stages of regulatory purgatory. Some could use a reserve team token, others need million-dollar guarantees and a little luck.

Barça, meanwhile, continues to rely on the sale of its VIP boxes as if they were bottles of champagne in a luxury club: exclusive, coveted and decisive for balancing the books. If that operation is validated in time, the 1:1 rule will return to the Camp Nou like an old friend who is owed money, but is welcomed with open arms.

When common sense triumphs over chaos

That Joan García is registered should not be news. But in the world of modern football —where balance sheets weigh more than goals and guarantees more than talent—, a registration is celebrated as a title. Barça has done its homework, although it still has homework to do. Joan is ready. The rest, as always, will depend on what happens on the field... and in the offices.