Ter Stegen to stay in Barcelona awaiting Ajax loan, will not travel with squad to England

Hupu Football News – July 26, 2028

According to Mundo Deportivo reporter Juan Manuel Díaz, unless there is a last-minute change, Marc-André ter Stegen will not board Barcelona's flight to East Midlands Airport this Monday, nor will he travel with the squad to St. George's Park for preseason training.

Current Situation

Both Barcelona and Ter Stegen himself intend for him to remain in Barcelona, continue preparing according to his personal training plan, and wait for the loan move to Ajax to be finalized before heading to the Netherlands.

Reports indicate that an agreement between Barcelona and Ajax was reached several days ago, and Ter Stegen has already agreed to the deal. He also has the full trust of Ajax coach Michel Sánchez, who hopes the German goalkeeper will become the starting goalkeeper at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Deal Status

The deal—which all parties hope to complete as soon as possible—is currently delayed only by tax and administrative details. The financial terms of the loan have been finalized and agreed upon, and Ajax's coach wants the player to join immediately.

As planned, Ter Stegen will head to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Monday morning, where he will meet with his current Barcelona teammates, coaching staff, and head coach Hansi Flick. However, the initial arrangement is for the German goalkeeper to remain in Barcelona, awaiting final approval in the coming days, after which Ajax will officially announce and unveil him. It is even possible that Ter Stegen could travel to Amsterdam as early as Tuesday.

Barcelona's Handling of the Situation

Barcelona and Flick have handled Ter Stegen's situation very carefully. As Barcelona's captain to date, Ter Stegen's contract with the club runs until June 30, 2028. Although it is clear that he is not in Flick's plans for next season, the German goalkeeper has still participated normally in preseason training over the past few weeks and even got playing time in the first closed-door friendly against CE Europa.

The club is fully aware of Ter Stegen's contributions to Barcelona over the years. At the same time, he faced a very difficult situation in 2026: originally loaned to Girona to revive his career, he suffered an injury at the start of the loan period.

Michel's Trust

It is Michel's continued trust in him that has become the German international's greatest hope now. Ter Stegen missed the 2026 World Cup due to his most recent injury. Michel, who previously coached Girona, firmly believes that Ter Stegen is well-suited to his team's playing style. Therefore, despite the player's high salary, Michel still urged Ajax to negotiate with Barcelona for his signing.

Ultimately, financial factors do not appear to be an obstacle to completing this deal.

Source: Mundo Deportivo International Football News

Posted in Shanghai Reads: 107