Marc-André Ter Stegen’s recent injury during the match against Villarreal has generated a wave of questions and speculation in the Blaugrana environment. With the German goalkeeper potentially sidelined for a long period, FC Barcelona could be forced to look for a replacement. But what are the club’s real options? In this article, we will answer the main doubts that arise as a result of this situation.
What are the current regulations that would allow Barcelona to sign a goalkeeper outside the transfer market?
According to La Liga rules, set out in Article 77, when a player suffers a long-term injury, his club can register a replacement. In the case of Ter Stegen, whose injury could keep him out of action for more than four months, Barcelona has the option of signing a new goalkeeper. However, this player must be without a club at the close of the transfer window. La Liga allows the club to spend up to 80% of the injured player’s salary on the new signing. In the case of Ter Stegen, whose salary is around 9 million euros, Barcelona could spend around 7 million on a replacement goalkeeper.
Can players be signed from other LaLiga teams?
No. The regulations that previously allowed players from other LaLiga clubs to be signed outside the transfer market are no longer in force. Since the 2020-2021 season, the Spanish Football Federation modified the regulations and this option was eliminated. The decision was made after the “Braithwaite Case” controversy in 2020, when Barcelona signed the Leganés striker after Ousmane Dembélé’s injury, which left Leganés in a very unfavourable situation. Now, only players who are without a club can be signed.
Which goalkeepers does Barcelona currently have in its squad?
Barcelona have two goalkeepers in their first-choice squad following Ter Stegen’s injury: Iñaki Peña and Ander Astralaga. Peña, 25, has been Ter Stegen’s regular back-up and has previously shown that he can take on the responsibility of defending the Blaugrana goal. Last season, when Ter Stegen was injured, Peña started 17 games, conceding 32 goals. Astralaga, meanwhile, is a less experienced and younger option, so should the club decide not to sign a new goalkeeper, Peña would be the first choice.
Is it feasible for Barcelona to continue with Iñaki Peña as a starter?
It will depend on the coaching staff’s judgement. Iñaki Peña has proven to be a competent goalkeeper, but the pressure of being the undisputed starter in a team like Barcelona is great. If the club decides not to sign a new goalkeeper, Peña would have the opportunity to establish himself as a starter until the January transfer window. In any case, Barcelona will evaluate whether it trusts Peña to maintain the team’s competitive level or if it prefers to resort to the open market to reinforce the goal.
When could Barcelona sign a goalkeeper if they decide not to go on the free agent market?
Should the club decide not to sign a goalkeeper on a free transfer in the coming weeks, the next transfer window will be in January 2025. However, the club will have to manage the situation for more than three months, a long period that can be decisive in the competitions in which Barça is involved.
Since Barcelona can only sign players on a free transfer, the options are limited. Below we mention some of the goalkeepers without a club who could be an alternative to cover Ter Stegen’s absence:
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