Burnley tried to hijack Barcelona deal for 24-year-old star last summer | OneFootball

 Barcelona may have secured one of Spain’s most promising goalkeepers in Joan Garcia, but fresh revelations suggest the club was not the only one pushing to land him.

According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Premier League side Burnley made a concrete attempt to sign the goalkeeper last summer, around the same time he completed his move from Espanyol to Barcelona.

Garcia’s rise over the past year has been nothing short of impressive. 

During the 2024/25 La Liga campaign, the 24-year-old established himself as one of the most reliable shot-stoppers in the division, having registered a league-high 146 saves.

Unsurprisingly, such performances did not go unnoticed beyond Spain.

What’s the story?

Interest from England quickly followed, with Burnley emerging as one of the clubs keen to explore a deal. 

As such, there is an interesting tale involving a vague connection between Espanyol and Burnley.

Notably, the English club is owned by Alan Pace, who also has strong ties to Espanyol’s ownership structure.

Burnley were interested in Joan Garcia. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Interestingly, when Burnley made their initial enquiry for Garcia, Alan Pace had not yet formally taken control of Espanyol. 

The ownership transition was only completed in early October, which may have influenced the dynamics of any potential negotiation.

There were sporting reasons too

Furthermore, the timing of Burnley’s enquiry also aligned with movement in the goalkeeper market. 

As Manchester City secured the signing of James Trafford, Burnley began assessing alternatives to strengthen their own goalkeeping department.

In that context, Garcia was on their radar, but a deal never materialised.

Instead, the Premier League opted for experience, bringing in veteran Martin Dúbravka on a free transfer. 

In hindsight, Barcelona’s move now looks more decisive. By acting quickly, they secured a goalkeeper who not only fits their long-term vision but also had growing demand across Europe.