The Barça goal heats up: Szczesny would renew, but another signing could arrive

The issue of the FC Barcelona goal seems to be fraught with some uncertainty. In principle, there doesn't seem to be any doubt that Marc-André ter Stegen will be, if nothing strange happens along the way, the team's number one goalkeeper for the 2025/26 season.

However, from him on, the role of second and third goalkeeper does not look entirely clear. In this sense, the main forecast is that Wojciech Szczesny —who, as already announced, was extended a renewal offer that he would be willing to accept— would take that second goalkeeper spot.

That would only leave the position of third goalkeeper to be defined, which apparently Iñaki Peña would not be willing to assume. According to reports, it looks increasingly likely that the cycle of the Alicante goalkeeper, who ends his contract with Barcelona on June 30, 2026, will come to an end this summer.

Barcelona does not rule out signing a goalkeeper in this summer market

Given this situation, it is not surprising that the Catalan team, despite the possible renewal of Szczesny and the clear role of Ter Stegen as a starter, maintains the expectation of making an incorporation to reinforce the goal. Even, according to the journalist Álex Pintanel of 'Relevo', the idea of the Barça sports management is to incorporate, regardless of what happens with the Polish goalkeeper, a goalkeeper in this summer market.

Names on the table: Joan García and other candidates

In this scenario, it is not strange that several names begin to sound. One of the ones that has gained the most strength in recent times is that of Joan García, goalkeeper of RCD Espanyol, accompanied by other interesting names such as Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion), Lucas Chevalier (LOSC Lille) and even Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez (Aston Villa).

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A top-level signing for the Barça goal?

From this there is an imminent reality: if Barcelona finally ends up making an investment in a top-level goalkeeper, it could open the debate around the role of Ter Stegen in the Barça team.

Although it is not questioned that, in his best version, the native of Mönchengladbach is one of the best in the world, there is some uncertainty about how he will face the 2025/26 campaign. In this course, he was out for several months due to a complete tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee and, in the matches after his return, his best level was not seen, something understandable as he did not have regularity. Even so, he left some quality details.

A millionaire signing would not only be for "depth"

Now, if Barça ends up signing a goalkeeper and investing a significant sum, it is clear that it would be to compete directly for the starting position. Otherwise, a significant outlay like the one that could be made, for example, for Joan García, whose clause is 25 M€, would not be understood.

He would be the second most expensive goalkeeper in the club's history, only behind Neto Murara (signed in 2019 for 26 'kilos'). It does not seem logical to think that such an operation is simply to reinforce the bottom of the wardrobe. Rather, it would be a wake-up call.

Ter Stegen facing a possible new internal challenge

This debate would not be minor for a Marc-André ter Stegen who needs regularity in his club if he wants to consolidate himself as a starter with the German national team for the 2026 World Cup. A season with direct competition with another top goalkeeper, who could even snatch the position from him, might not favor him too much.

In fact, it is not ruled out that such a movement will motivate him to explore an exit, an idea that has begun to gain strength among certain sectors of the fans, where even the hashtag #TerStegenOut has become popular on networks.

On the other hand, there is also the option that internal competition brings out the best in the German. He already did it in his day when he had to fight for the position with Claudio Bravo, in a fight that finally ended up leaning in his favor. This time, the context would be different, but the demand would be the same or greater.

Overbooking in the goal: luxury or problem?

What is clear is that, if Barça ends up incorporating a new goalkeeper and Szczęsny renews, there will be a real 'overbooking' of good goalkeepers in the squad. This, beyond fostering healthy competition, could give rise to a stellar debate about who should be the owner of the goal in 2025/26.