Ter Stegen joins Ajax on loan from Barcelona
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is set to join Ajax on a season-long loan deal.
The Catalan giants have reached a preliminary verbal agreement with the Dutch side, with the financial details of the move fully agreed.
Barcelona are now awaiting official documentation to review the final details before giving the 34-year-old Germany international permission to travel to Amsterdam next week.
The loan agreement is expected to include an option for Ajax to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season.
The move is nearing completion after Ter Stegen agreed personal terms, though an official announcement will be delayed for a few days while he undergoes a comprehensive medical examination. The goalkeeper has recently recovered from a back injury and subsequent surgery on his left hamstring.
Ter Stegen reportedly rejected interest from elsewhere to join Ajax, drawn by the club’s determination to sign him and the opportunity to reunite with manager Míchel, who previously coached him.
As part of the agreement, Barcelona will continue to cover a significant portion of Ter Stegen’s salary, as the Eredivisie club are unable to match his full wages. The goalkeeper’s current contract at the Nou Camp runs until 2028.
Ter Stegen’s departure, alongside fellow goalkeeper Iñaki Peña, means Joan García is set to become Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper, with veteran Wojciech Szczęsny acting as backup.
Despite previously showing interest in Real Sociedad’s Álex Remiro, Barcelona do not intend to enter the transfer market for a replacement.
