Barcelona complete first summer signing: Five-year deal accepted for ‘best in the world’

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 4 Jun 2025 12:24 BST
• 4 min read

News

Barcelona will make their first signing of the summer official in a matter of days, football transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano reports.

The Catalans have closed out a deal that will see them sign goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol, with the shot-stopper having agreed a five-year deal with the Camp Nou side.

Everything is in place for a move to take place but official confirmation is not expected for several days as Barcelona are in no hurry to complete the move.

Current ETV

Joan García

GK

Espanyol

Joan García

GK

Espanyol

€24.4M

ETV Range

€22M - €26.8M

View full profile

Romano reports: “Joan Garcia will become new Barca player next week, plan confirmed.

“Agreement done with the goalkeeper on five-year deal, accepted last week + formal steps to follow.

“Barca informed Joan that €25m release clause will be paid to Espanyol next week.

“Here we go, soon.”

Barcelona have beaten a string of Premier League teams to Garcia, with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Manchester United all linked with him.

Praise for Joan Garcia

Although he is yet to earn international recognition, which would have seen his release fee rise to €30m, Joan Garcia is not short of admirers.

Club-mate Jofre Carreras told Mundo Deportivo: "For me, Joan Garcia is the best goalkeeper in the world. What he does in training is unbelievable. He works so hard, and he's a great person too. He's very humble, and we're lucky to have him at Espanyol."

Similarly, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits he has received positive reports about the 24-year-old.

“I think he’ll be a very good goalkeeper. Whether we’re interested in him or not… It seems like City is interested in 500 players every window. The players tell me he’s an extraordinary goalkeeper. And the references we have tell us he’s very good,” the former Barcelona head coach said.

Unsurprisingly, Manolo Gonzalez, the Espanyol head coach, has hailed his No.1.

“I think he'll be a top goalkeeper at the world level. For the money he's worth, I wouldn't hesitate to sign him if I could,” he said.

Barcelona will pay €25m for Joan Garcia, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €24.4m, suggesting their valuation of the Espanyol keeper, whose valuation has jumped dramatically in the last 12 months, is an accurate one.

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