Barcelona proposes new plan to resolve Ter Stegen tax issues, pushing Ajax loan forward

According to Sport, Barcelona has presented a new proposal to German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen in an effort to push through his loan move to Ajax, aiming to resolve a lingering tax disagreement that has stalled the deal.

The 34-year-old's loan to Ajax has taken a fresh turn. The transfer had been unable to receive final approval due to unresolved tax-related figures on the goalkeeper's side. In the last few hours, Barcelona submitted a counter-proposal, which the player has now accepted. This new plan could break the deadlock, just ten days after the loan was widely considered a done deal.

Ter Stegen had previously been unable to confirm the tax implications of a portion of his salary distribution for this season, but has now accepted the arrangement. In any case, Ajax's share of the salary amounts to less than €2 million. Ter Stegen's contract with Barcelona runs until 2028, with his salary increasing annually.

Barcelona will cover the larger portion of the salary, though the exact amount is not fixed and will depend on Ter Stegen's playing time. Ajax imposed this condition after noting Girona's previous experience: a player who played only two matches due to injury, yet Girona still paid the full agreed salary.

The three-party deal has proven more complex than initially expected. Last week, Barcelona's stance shifted from "the deal is close" to emphasizing that they could not push the situation forward, as the issue depended entirely on the player and his personal financial affairs.

However, with no overall agreement in sight and to avoid a delay that would benefit no party, Barcelona decided to intervene, adjusting certain amounts to help Ter Stegen leave the club smoothly.

Ajax has expressed some confusion over the developments, as they believed all parties had already concluded negotiations and reached an agreement, requiring only the formalization of the agreed financial terms in writing. They have received no clear explanation for the delay.

Ajax acknowledges that no deadline has been set to abandon the deal, but as is normal, their patience will not last indefinitely. The Dutch club is prepared for either outcome—the loan may still go through, or it may fall through entirely.

Ajax head coach Michel has already accepted that Ter Stegen will not be available for the team's first match in the UEFA Europa Conference League, scheduled for 20:00 today. The Dutch side will face Serbian club Vojvodina Novi Sad in the first leg of the second qualifying round.

If Ajax eliminate their opponents, they will face the winner between Irish side Shelbourne and Estonian side Nomme Kalju in the third qualifying round. UEFA's new player registration deadline for the third qualifying round is midnight on July 31.

Ter Stegen himself has not commented on the situation and has chosen to remain silent. Apart from one day of absence, he has continued to train normally at the Ciutat Esportiva under head coach Hansi Flick.

Source: Sport