Barcelona have confirmed that LaLiga has officially approved the registration of goalkeeper Joan García for the 2025/26 season, following the placement of Marc-André ter Stegen on the long-term injury list.
The decision, which was communicated to the club this week, provides Barcelona with crucial flexibility under LaLiga’s strict salary cap rules, enabling them to register additional players without breaching financial fair play regulations.
Ter Stegen, 33, underwent lower back surgery in July and initially maintained that his recovery would take around three months. However, the club’s medical staff projected a longer rehabilitation period, prompting Barcelona to submit the necessary documents to classify him as a long-term absentee.
Reports in Spain suggest that this difference in recovery timelines led to tensions between the German international and the club in recent weeks, with Ter Stegen initially reluctant to sign off on the medical report required for league approval.
With LaLiga now granting the request, García’s inclusion is expected to provide head coach Hansi Flick with much-needed depth between the posts as the season intensifies. The Catalan giants hope the move will stabilise their defensive options while they await their captain’s eventual return to full fitness.
Leave a Reply