Joan Garcia makes his mind up! Espanyol goalkeeper ready to complete €25m Barcelona transfer after snubbing Arsenal interest

Barcelona are close to signing Espanyol goalkeeper Garcia, per Marca, with the deal expected to be finalised soon for €25 million (£21m/$28m), the goalkeeper's release clause. Garcia, also pursued by Manchester City and Arsenal, prefers a move to Barca but will consult his family before making a final decision.

The transfer is emotionally complex due to his deep ties to Espanyol and the fierce rivalry between the two Catalan clubs, making such moves rare and controversial. Garcia has rejected the option of a loan in the event his transfer is complete and is ready to compete immediately for the No. 1 spot, challenging Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Barcelona are expected to activate his €25m release clause soon, viewing the 24-year-old as one for both the present and the future.

The report further added that the club also plans to hold discussions with Ter Stegen to clarify the situation and manage potential dressing-room tensions. With both goalkeepers expected to compete for the starting role, new manager Hansi Flick could face a delicate balancing act next season. For his part, the German international has already ruled out a departure this summer.

"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," he told at a press conference.

The Espanyol star is currently weighing up his option, although recent reports indicate that a move to Barcelona could be finalised in the coming days. With interest from Premier League, too, in addition to Ter Stegen's assertion that he won't leave Barca, Garcia could well be tempted to move abroad in search of more playing time with an eye on the 2026 World Cup.