Report – 19-year-old La Masia talent set to be Barcelona’s third-choice goalkeeper next season | OneFootball

With FC Barcelona securing the signing of Joan Garcia, it will set off a chain reaction in the goalkeeping department – a domino effect of necessary decisions, including some difficult ones.

Garcia has signed with Barcelona until 2031 and will be installed as the first-choice goalkeeper in all likelihood, which puts incumbent Marc-Andre ter Stegen in a difficult position.

The Blaugrana, for their part, are prepared to offload the German international with Wojciech Szczesny, renewal pending, expected to take up the second-choice role.

Diego Kochen to be the third choice?

Inaki Pena is also on his way out, in search of regular game-time, having fallen out of favour this season.

As such, SPORT reports that the responsibility of being the third-choice goalkeeper in the Barcelona first team is expected to fall on Diego Kochen.

Though the American did not have a standout season with Barça Atletic, the Blaugrana still consider him a strong long-term prospect.

Kochen to be Garcia, Szczesny’s understudy. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Kochen featured 16 times for the reserve team this term, conceding 26 goals in the process as they ended up getting relegated from the RFEF Primera Division.

At 19, though, the American talent is still developing. While a loan is not completely ruled out, he is expected to serve as the third-choice keeper this season.

If Kochen progresses and proves reliable, he could move up to the second-choice role next year once Szczesny’s contract expires.

The teenage shot-stopper’s contract with Barcelona runs until 2028 and will hope to make an impression on Hansi Flick & co. so as to earn a promotion next year.

Meanwhile, Aron Yaakobishvili is likely to take over the mantle of the starting goalkeeper for Barça Atletic with Ander Astralaga expected to leave on loan.