Ter Stegen confirms he will undergo surgery: What does it mean for Barça?

Published New:24/07/2025 - 18:30h

Updated New:24/07/2025 - 20:14h

Ter Stegen will undergo surgery to address his back problems and will be out for several months. This scenario would help with the registration of Joan García

Marc-André ter Stegen will undergo surgery to address some ailments affecting his back. The German goalkeeper issued a statement explaining the reasons for his decision after assessing the situation with the medical services.

“After intense conversations with the FC Barcelona medical team and external experts, the quickest and safest way for me to fully recover is through back surgery,” explains the message shared by MATS.

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With this intervention, the German aims to end the physical problems that have been affecting him, and it seems that he could be out of the playing field for three to four months.

Injuries complicate Ter Stegen's present at Barça

The current situation of the number '1' goalkeeper of FC Barcelona is not easy at all, since on September 22 of last year, on matchday 6 of LaLiga 2024/25, the German goalkeeper suffered a complete rupture of the patellar tendon in his right knee, which kept him away from the playing field until May of this year.

After his unfortunate physical setback, Barcelona went to the market for an established goalkeeper who would provide guarantees, so they signed Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, who ended up keeping the starting position for the rest of the season.

Thus, the physical problems of the Mönchengladbach native also meant that during the 2025 summer transfer window, the Barcelona team acquired the services of Joan García, who is expected to be the new owner of the culé goal, while Szczesny will be the second, leaving MATS as the third option.

Ter Stegen's absence could help Barça sign Joan García

Due to Marc-André's latest injury, if the player remains sidelined for four months or more, Barça could benefit from significant salary releases. According to internal calculations, the club could release up to 80% of the German goalkeeper's salary.

Ter Stegen, who earns around 14 million euros gross per year, would leave a margin of approximately 11.2 million euros, a figure that would allow Barça to amortize the registration of Joan García without compromising the financial balance.

It should be noted that Barça closed the signing of García for six seasons (until June 2031); in an agreement, it includes a salary of approximately 3 million euros net per year.

In this context, Ter Stegen's long-term absence opens up the necessary administrative and financial space that would allow the club to register the Catalan goalkeeper.

However, it remains to be defined whether the number '1' goalkeeper's federation license will be valid for the entire 2025/26 season or only during the period in which Ter Stegen remains out of the playing field. A decision that will depend on medical deadlines and current regulations.