Barcelona close to beating Arsenal to goalkeeper signing | OneFootball

Barcelona are closing in on an agreement to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol.

The Spanish side are in advanced negotiations with their Catalan rivals to sign Garcia, who has a release clause of €30m in his contract.

Garcia was a key part in Espanyol’s successful bid to avoid relegation from La Liga with an outstanding individual campaign. The 24-year-old was named in the La Liga Team of the Season for saves and goals prevented.

Arsenal to face Joan Garcia transfer disappointment

Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle and Aston Villa had all courted Garcia, but the shot-stopper looks set to turn down interest from England. Fabrizio Romano has revealed that an agreement between Barcelona and Espanyol is close for the goalkeeper.

Arsenal had been interested in signing Garcia last summer but failed to get a deal over the line. The Gunners are now set for disappointment again, having targeted the Spaniard to provide competition for compatriot David Raya. After the deal broke down in 2024, the Gunners signed veteran Neto on loan from Bournemouth.

Barcelona are keen to wrap up the deal for Garcia quickly, having anticipated strong competition from the Premier League.

The Catalans view Garcia as a long-term option at number one, with Marc-andre ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczesny into the latter stages of their careers.

However, it remains to be seen how their goalkeeping options are decided for 2025/26, with Szczesny expected to sign a new deal in Catalonia. The Pole impressed after being coaxed out of retirement to sign as a free agent last season, following Ter Stegen’s long-term injury.

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