Joan García, 2nd most expensive goalkeeper in Barça

FC Barcelona announced this Wednesday the signing of Joan García, who will defend the 'azulgrana' goal for the next six seasons. As expected, the club made his incorporation official for 25 million euros, until June 2031, making the payment of his termination clause to Espanyol effective.

Thus, the player from Sallent becomes the second most expensive goalkeeper in Barça's history and Hansi Flick's first reinforcement for 2025/26. This is a strategic signing, incorporating the best goalkeeper in LaLiga 24/25 (he led the tournament in saves, 146 in 38 matchdays) and the Spanish goalkeeper with the best projection of the moment.

The Catalan is already listed on Transfermarkt for around 25 'kilos' and had several big clubs in Europe after him. Finally, Barça managed to close his transfer in record time, in the middle of the Club World Cup and less than a month before the start of the preseason.

Joan García, very close to equaling... ¡Neto Murara!

Thus, Joan García becomes the second highest investment for the 'azulgrana' goal. The first on the list, curiously, was a goalkeeper whose time in Barcelona was really disappointing.

It is Neto Murara, who arrived from Valencia CF in the summer of 2019 for 26 million euros. The Brazilian spent three seasons at the club, but only played 21 games in which he conceded 20 goals, with 7 clean sheets.

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OFFICIAL: Neto leaves Barça for free with direction to the Premier

In the summer of 2022, Neto left for the English Bournemouth with a letter of freedom. He was there for a couple of years and, in 24/25, he went on loan to Arsenal. After the signing of the Espanyol youth player, the list of the most expensive incorporations of Barça in the goal is as follows:

The third goalkeeper on the list, Jasper Cillessen, was not lucky either defending the 'culé' goal. The Dutchman arrived at the club in 2016 from Ajax in exchange for 13 'kilos', but he was Ter Stegen's substitute for three seasons in which he only played 32 games.

In them, he recorded 14 clean sheets and 25 goals conceded. Unlike Neto, Cillessen left profits in the 'culé' coffers, as he was transferred to Valencia in the same summer of 2019 for 35 million euros.

The exchange of players in the goal between both teams finally left the 'azulgrana' team 9 'kilos' in favor. However, Murara's high salary (3 M€ net per year), in the long run, was a financial burden.

Joan García also makes history among Spanish goalkeepers

OFFICIAL: Joan García, new FC Barcelona player until 2031

On the other hand, with his transfer to FC Barcelona, Joan García has become the third most expensive Spanish goalkeeper in history, only behind Kepa Arrizabalaga, acquired by Chelsea in the 2018/19 season for 80 M€, and David Raya, transferred to Arsenal in 2024/25 for 31.9 'kilos'.

Further back appears David de Gea, for whom Manchester United also paid 25 million in 2011. The list is closed by Pau López, who left for Roma in 2019 for 23.5 M€.

The list of the most expensive Spanish goalkeepers, with the inclusion of Joan García, is as follows:

In LaLiga, Thibaut Courtois (2018) and Jasper Cillessen (2019) are the goalkeepers for whom the most millions have been paid in history (35 M€ each). The podium is completed by Neto Murara himself, after his signing for Barça.

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Joan García says goodbye to Espanyol after signing for Barça

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