Marc-Andre ter Stegen says he 'knows' where he will play next season as Barcelona push to sign goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol

Ter Stegen has responded to growing rumours about his potential exit from Barcelona. Despite reports that the club are preparing to bring in Espanyol’s Joan Garcia as a long-term replacement, the German goalkeeper publicly confirmed that he’s staying at the Catalan club next season.

La Liga champions Barca are in the midst of a squad rebuild and financial reshuffle, which has led to speculation about high-profile players being sold. The German goalkeeper's name has surfaced in connection with a possible exit, especially with the club eyeing young talent like Joan Garcia. However, with a contract running until 2028, Ter Stegen’s calm and does not see any reason to panic. 

During a recent press conference, the 33-year-old made it clear that he’s not looking to leave the club, saying: "I know I'll be at Barcelona next year. I'm extremely excited about the coming season because we have a great team that's young, dynamic, and hungry. There's no situation that needs to be discussed."
Ter Stegen also made it clear that any new arrival must prove themselves and earn their spot in the team: “If I remember correctly, and if nothing new has happened in the last few hours, we only have two goalkeepers for next season, Inaki [Pena] and I,” he said.
"So basically, the competition is between us. And whoever comes in, no matter what, will have to face this competition.”

With the German international firmly stating his intent to stay and compete, the ball is now in Barcelona’s court. Will Joan Garcia arrive to challenge him directly, or will Barca continue with their current duo? The upcoming pre-season and Hansi Flick’s plans could offer more clarity on how the goalkeeper hierarchy will look heading into the new campaign.