Girona confirm Ter Stegen loan, cannot face Barcelona | OneFootball

Girona have completed the loan signing of Marc-André Ter Stegen from Barcelona until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old said goodbye to the Barcelona dressing room in the morning before the squad flew to Prague without him, then passed a medical at Barcelona’s Clínica Creu Blanca before the move was made official. According to Superdeporte, Barcelona will cover almost all of his roughly 16 million salary, with Girona paying about half a million.

After more than 10 years as Barcelona’s goalkeeper, he changes scene. He will commute along the AP-7, around an hour to Montilivi and the Vilablareix training base, aiming to reach this summer’s World Cup with Germany if he convinces Julian Nagelsmann. Internationally, his path has long been blocked by Manuel Neuer.

A clause, popularly known as the fear clause, means he will sit out the mid-February meeting at Montilivi between the clubs. He could make his Girona debut on Monday at Montilivi against Getafe.

In Prague, Alejandro Balde and Hansi Flick acknowledged his departure before Wednesday’s Champions match against Slavia. Flick initially joked that Balde’s word settled it, then said Ter Stegen had informed the squad that morning, called the switch the right decision and wished him well, adding he has a good chance of going to the World Cup. Balde paid tribute, calling him a major reference and hoping he regains confidence after injury.

He remains under contract at Barcelona until 2028.

Source: Superdeporte