OFFICIAL: FC Barcelona loans Ter Stegen to Girona for six months

Marc-André ter Stegen is now, for all intents and purposes, a Girona FC player. The 33-year-old goalkeeper will play on loan for the remainder of the 2025/26 season with the Girona-based side, after FC Barcelona gave the green light for his departure until next June 30.

'Mats' passed his medical on Tuesday afternoon and, hours later, both clubs completed the documentation supporting the loan of the German, whose contract with Barça expires in June 2028. The Culés, with Joan García as the undisputed 'number 1' and Wojciech Szczesny as his backup, had not counted on Ter Stegen since last summer.

However, a back injury forced the Mönchengladbach native to undergo surgery in July. After a long-term absence (four months), the German shot-stopper only recently returned to action on December 16 against Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey round of 16 (0-2).

Ter Stegen arrives at Girona with clear objectives

Hansi Flick, however, made it clear that Joan García would be the starter in all competitions for the second half of the season. Consequently, the Blaugrana captain had no choice but to look for a team, and Girona's offer eventually convinced him.

Firstly, because of the possibility of remaining in Catalonia, very close to his children. Additionally, Míchel asked the 'Albirroja' board to sign another goalkeeper following the poor experience with Croatia's Dominik Livakovic, who did not even play a single match after arriving on loan from Fenerbahce.

Marc-André ter Stegen.#laligahighlights pic.twitter.com/f2wAo7Hpfw

— Girona FC (@GironaFC) January 20, 2026

'Mats' arrives at Montilivi with the mission of taking over from the experienced Paulo Gazzaniga and, from next Monday against Getafe (21:00 CET), he must take charge of the Girona goal, which conceded 34 goals in the first 20 matchdays of LaLiga (the worst defense in the tournament so far).

The German international had already received several 'warnings' in his home country regarding the need to find a team, play regularly, and rediscover his best form to be the starter and captain for his national team at the 2026 World Cup.

Now, Ter Stegen is focusing on performing at his peak with Girona to help Míchel's side avoid relegation comfortably and, perhaps, fight for European qualification spots in LaLiga. The Catalan team currently sits in 11th place with 24 points, 8 points behind Celta (7th). 

Barça will continue to pay the majority of Ter Stegen's salary

Barcelona, meanwhile, will continue to pay most of the 33-year-old goalkeeper's salary (Girona will assume approximately 25% of his wages), which this season is around 14 million euros gross per year. The Blaugrana board's objective is for the shot-stopper to shine at Montilivi so that, ahead of the summer market, it will be much more feasible to receive offers for a permanent transfer of the 'number 1'.

Marc-André ter Stegen arrived at Barça in the summer of 2014 and played a total of 423 official matches. Only Víctor Valdés has more appearances in the Culé goal (534), and his personal trophy cabinet holds 20 trophies over 11 and a half seasons. 

The German renewed his contract for the last time in the summer of 2023, agreeing to defer most of his salary to the final three seasons of the deal valid until 2028. This will be one of the main obstacles to negotiating his permanent exit between July and August, but the first step has been taken with his loan to Girona, which includes the so-called 'fear clause'.