FC BARCELONA SIGNINGS 2025
Joan García signs for Barça: agreement closed for 25 million euros
Published:4/06/2025 - 14:20h
Updated:4/06/2025 - 14:30h
FC Barcelona closes the signing of goalkeeper Joan García for 25 million euros. He will sign for five seasons after leaving Espanyol.
FC Barcelona has closed the signing of Joan García, goalkeeper of RCD Espanyol, for 25 million euros. The Catalan goalkeeper, 24 years old, will sign for five seasons after giving the final approval in a meeting with his entourage in Barcelona.
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"YES" to Barça: Joan García has opted for Barça's proposal.
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25M€: Barça will pay the 25 million of his release clause.
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2030: The Espanyol goalkeeper will sign for 5 seasons.
Joan García gives the green light to Barça after a final key meeting
Joan García will be a new player of FC Barcelona from the 2025/26 season. The young goalkeeper, until now in the ranks of RCD Espanyol, has given his final approval to the transfer after a final meeting held last night with his agents and family in a restaurant in the Catalan capital. Sources close to the club confirm that Barça will pay in full the release clause of 25 million euros to acquire his services.
The decision has not been easy for the player from Sallent, aware of the symbolism of crossing the Avenida Diagonal and moving from Espanyol to their eternal rival. However, the attractive sporting project of Barça and the opportunity to consolidate himself in the elite have weighed more than any sentimental bond.
With this move, Joan García will become one of the most relevant signings of the summer and will occupy a prominent place in the history of transfers in the Barça goal.
The signing of Joan García in figures: records and context
The operation places Joan García as the second most expensive goalkeeper in the history of FC Barcelona, only behind Neto Murara, who arrived from Valencia CF in the 2019/20 season for 26 million euros.
Top 5 most expensive goalkeepers of Barça:
- Neto Murara: 2019/20 (Valencia, 26M€)
- Joan García: 2025/26 (Espanyol, 25M€)
- Jasper Cillessen: 2016/17 (Ajax, 13M€)
- Ter Stegen: 2014/15 (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 12M€)
- Claudio Bravo: 2014/15 (Real Sociedad, 12M€)
In the national context, García will be the third most expensive Spanish goalkeeper in history, surpassing David de Gea (25 M€ to Manchester United) and only behind Kepa Arrizabalaga (80 M€ to Chelsea) and David Raya (31.9 M€ to Arsenal).
Financial ‘Fair Play’: the great obstacle pending
Despite the closed agreement, the registration of Joan García in LaLiga is still conditioned by the salary limit of FC Barcelona. Currently, the club does not comply with the 1:1 ratio required to register new players because LaLiga has not yet validated key income, such as that derived from the VIP boxes of the Spotify Camp Nou and certain contract renewals.
To resolve this situation, the sports area is actively working on the departure of players. Clément Lenglet is negotiating the termination of his contract, while Ansu Fati could leave on loan to AS Monaco. Iñaki Peña and Pablo Torre are also among the possible transfers this summer.
The future of the Barça goal
With the arrival of Joan García, Barça not only adds youth and projection under the posts, but also a profile trained in the Catalan youth academy that could become a natural replacement in the medium term for Ter Stegen.
The bet is not minor: the club invests 25 million in a goalkeeper who has barely played a full season as a starter in the First Division, but who has the absolute confidence of the sports area led by Deco.
The challenge now will be twofold: adapt to the demands of the Barça environment and overcome the administrative complexities posed by financial ‘fair play’. But if there is one thing that characterizes Joan García, according to those who know him, it is his ability to compete in silence. Like a shadow on the goal line. Like a goalkeeper who doesn't need to shout to be noticed.
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