It's official: Iñaki Peña has become a new player for Elche CF. The goalkeeper from Alicante arrives at the team managed by Eder Sarabia to take on a new professional challenge outside of FC Barcelona, a team that, before sending him to the Elche side, decided to extend his contractual link for three more seasons, until June 30, 2029.
A strategic move that responds to the intention of the team from Barcelona to redistribute their wage bill with an updated agreement and, at the same time, maintain control over his sporting future. It's worth remembering that the goalkeeper's contract ended in June 2026, which reduced the room for maneuver of the 'culé' club.
The statement from FC Barcelona to make Iñaki Peña's departure official:
"FC Barcelona and first team player Iñaki Peña have reached an agreement to extend his contract until June 30, 2029.
Likewise, FC Barcelona and Elche Club de Fútbol have reached an agreement for the loan of the goalkeeper for the current season, until June 30, 2026."
Iñaki Peña's time at FC Barcelona: numbers and balance
Thus concludes, for the moment, the goalkeeper's stage at Can Barça. The Alicante native never managed to establish himself as the starting goalkeeper, despite having opportunities due to Ter Stegen's injuries in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons. In this last season, his participation was even less due to the arrival of Wojciech Szczęsny, who relegated him to ostracism.
| SEASON | MATCHES | MIN. PLAYED | GA | CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 5 | 372' | 7 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | 17 | 1560' | 32 | 3 |
| 2024-25 | 20 | 1696' | 25 | 7 |
| 2025-26 | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 42 | 3628' | 64 | 11 |
Looking ahead to the 2025/26 season, the outlook was not encouraging for Iñaki Peña either. With the signing of Joan García, who took over as the starter and is expected to remain a fixture, Barça now has three top goalkeepers: the goalkeeper from Sallent as undisputed, backed by Szczęsny, and with Ter Stegen waiting to return after his injury, although his future role remains uncertain.
- 🏆 TITLES OF IÑAKI PEÑA AS A PLAYER OF FC BARCELONA (6): two Leagues (2022/23 and 2024/25), two Copa del Rey (2020/21 and 2024/25) and two Spanish Super Cups (2023 and 2025).
The Alicante native and his departure from the 'azulgrana' club: interest from several teams and arrival at Elche
In this context, the scenario became complicated for Iñaki Peña, who, despite everything, retained a good reputation in the market. Since rumors emerged about his departure, several clubs showed interest, including Celta de Vigo and Como 1907, and even Galatasaray, where he already had a loan spell in the 2021/22 season.
Finally, the one who bet with more force was Eder Sarabia's Elche, recently promoted to LaLiga EA Sports and who has starred in an ambitious market, incorporating —among others— also Federico Redondo (from Inter Miami) and André Silva (from RB Leipzig). In turn, for Iñaki, it is a golden opportunity, although he will have to compete for the starting position with Matías Dituro and the recently arrived Alejandro Iturbe.
- 📌 THIS IS HOW ELCHE DEFINES THE SIGNING OF IÑAKI PEÑA: "With his arrival, Elche CF adds security, reflexes and confidence to its goal at a key moment in the season. A reinforcement that combines youth, competitive maturity and international experience to strengthen the 'franjiverde' goal. Welcome, Iñaki!".
Szczęsny's registration on track thanks to Iñaki Peña's departure
The departure of the Alicante native not only represents a sporting benefit for Peña, but also represents an economic relief for FC Barcelona, which will free up salary space to register Wojciech Szczęsny in LaLiga, who missed the first two matchdays of the local tournament for not being registered. Now, the Polish goalkeeper can be registered in place of the Alicante goalkeeper.