Iñaki Peña is one of the FC Barcelona players on the way out, as his contract expires in June 2026 and Hansi Flick is not counting on him. The goalkeeper trained at La Masia, according to the latest information, would sign for three seasons to be shielded and avoid a possible departure at 'zero cost' as happened with the departure of Iñigo Martínez to Al-Nassr.
There would also be plans for a change of scenery for the goalkeeper, as there is talk of his loan to the newly promoted team of Elche, according to what was leaked by 'Jijantes'. The 26-year-old footballer will not have opportunities this season, as with the incorporation of Joan García he becomes the fourth option for Flick behind Wojcieh Szczesny and Marc-André ter Stegen.
Elche would be serious about Iñaki Peña before the market closes
In addition, the coaching staff has the American Diego Kochen (goalkeeper of Barça Atlètic) as an alternative for LaLiga. Iñaki momentarily received the number '1', but this is only a formality while his departure is resolved and due to Ter Stegen's injury.
Thus, there are rumors of several teams that would be interested in the loan of the player. The last of them is the team led by Eder Sarabia. The coach sees with good eyes the incorporation of Peña after his time at Barça, where he was a starter in a stretch of the last two seasons with the first team.
For now, the Elche team has the Argentine Matías Dituro (38 years old) and the former goalkeeper of Atlético de Madrid Alejandro Iturbe (21) as alternatives for the goal. In the first matchday, the experienced South American goalkeeper was a starter against Betis (1-1).
Other clubs that have also shown interest in the youth player are Girona, Celta, Como and Galatasaray, the latter being a team for which he was already on loan for a semester in 2022. However, none of them have presented a concrete offer so far.
Elche and Como: the race for the signing of Iñaki
In that sense, Iñaki Peña's competition at Elche would be Dituro, who was also a starter and key player for Elche's promotion to LaLiga, playing 38 of the 42 matches in the Spanish Second Division the previous year.
The truth is that if Elche wants to have the goalkeeper trained at La Masia for this season, they will have to move quickly, since according to 'MARCA' Cesc Fàbregas' Como 1907 has also shown a strong interest in the player from Alicante.
The Spanish goalkeeper needs opportunities to continue growing, and he has already shown good conditions under the posts when he had to be a starter with the 'culés' in 23/24 and 24/25 (he played 45 matches and conceded 64 goals, with 11 clean sheets). It is not an option that the '1' runs out of rhythm of play, so minutes and confidence are a priority.
Barça, understanding that he is still a player with good projection, prefers to avoid a termination of contract or a transfer for a lower amount this summer. His current value is 8 million euros, but entering his last year of contract, it is difficult for another club to offer an amount in the order of 12-15 'kilos'.