Ajax submit formal loan offer for Barcelona club captain – Report | OneFootball

Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s departure from FC Barcelona has taken another significant step forward after Ajax submitted a formal proposal to sign the German goalkeeper on loan.

The Dutch giants have been monitoring the 34-year-old for weeks, and negotiations have now progressed from initial interest to an official offer.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Ajax have presented Barcelona with a loan proposal for Ter Stegen, whose contract at Camp Nou runs until 2028.

However, the biggest obstacle remains financial. Ajax can only afford to cover a relatively small portion of the goalkeeper’s salary, meaning the two clubs must still reach an agreement over how his wages will be shared.

Salary talks now hold the key

Barcelona have confirmed receiving Ajax’s proposal, but discussions are now centred almost entirely on the financial package.

Ter Stegen’s salary has become a major complication after part of his wages were deferred in previous seasons to help the club register other players. As a result, his earnings have increased, making any loan agreement more difficult to structure.

From the player’s perspective, though, the move is increasingly attractive.

The report states that Ter Stegen is open to joining Ajax after 12 years at Barcelona. A reunion with Michel, who specifically requested his signing, is one of the biggest factors behind that decision.

The sporting project also appeals to the German goalkeeper. With Jordi Cruyff leading Ajax’s sporting department, Ter Stegen believes he would join a club where he could immediately become a dressing-room leader while playing a possession-based style that suits his strengths with the ball at his feet.

For Barcelona, completing this deal would represent more than just a goalkeeping change. Reducing one of the squad’s highest salaries would provide valuable Financial Fair Play flexibility ahead of the new season.

The remaining challenge is finding common ground on the salary split. If Barcelona and Ajax can bridge that gap, a deal could happen in the near future.