Marc-André ter Stegen has completed a move to Girona following his Barcelona departure. Here’s why the club decided to move on.
Marc-André ter Stegen has finalised a loan move from FC Barcelona to Girona for the remainder of the season, setting up a fresh chapter driven by the need for regular football. The German goalkeeper said goodbye to his teammates on Monday morning before signing the agreement that will keep him with Girona until the 2026/27 season concludes.
The decision is rooted squarely in sporting priorities. Ter Stegen requires consistent playing time to push for a place in Germany’s FIFA World Cup 2026 squad, something that had become increasingly unlikely at Barcelona.
Why Barcelona decided to move on from Marc-André ter Stegen
Despite being Barcelona’s captain, his standing within the squad shifted after the rise of Joan García and the club’s growing trust in Wojciech Szczęsny, leaving the former Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkeeper without a guaranteed role.
With his pathway blocked, a temporary exit became inevitable. Although Ter Stegen was initially hesitant about joining a side involved in a relegation fight, the importance of maintaining match sharpness at this stage of his career ultimately outweighed those concerns. The opportunity to play regularly proved decisive in his acceptance of the loan move to Girona.
Ter Stegen did not travel with the Barcelona squad to Prague for their Champions League fixture against Slavia Prague, instead remaining in Spain with full club approval to complete the final steps of the transfer.
👋 BENVINGUT TER STEGEN
🔗 https://t.co/cS7FBBhmDY pic.twitter.com/FBDM2vOvDx
— Girona FC (@GironaFC) January 20, 2026
How much of Ter Stegen’s wages will Girona cover?
From a financial perspective, the deal places the majority of the burden on Barcelona. According to information shared by Nil Solà, Girona will contribute only a small fraction of Ter Stegen’s wages during the loan spell.
While early reports suggested Girona’s share could approach €1 million, updated details indicate the figure is closer to €500,000, with Barcelona covering the rest.
In practical terms, Barcelona will pay roughly 90 percent of Ter Stegen’s salary through to the end of June.
Ter Stegen’s World Cup aspirations
On a personal level, Ter Stegen had hoped to convince Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann of his continued status through performances at Barcelona.
That ambition was complicated by limited opportunities and by events earlier in the summer, when the goalkeeper was stripped of the captaincy following a dispute related to surgery on a back injury in July.
The situation shifted rapidly, as Ter Stegen was reinstated as Barcelona captain and disciplinary proceedings against him were dropped, closing one chapter of internal tension.
Even so, the change did not alter the sporting reality he faced once the season began, with García standing out in goal and establishing himself between the posts.