Marc-André ter Stegen Returns to Spain for Injury Assessment

Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has left Barcelona’s training camp in Saudi Arabia to return to Spain for medical evaluations following an injury sustained during training on Tuesday, as confirmed by the club.

At 33 years old, Ter Stegen has faced ongoing injury challenges over the past two years, having missed a significant portion of the previous season due to a knee injury and the beginning of the current campaign following back surgery.

During his absence, Joan García has taken over the starting position, and sources indicate that Barcelona may be open to allowing Ter Stegen to leave in January as he seeks consistent playing time ahead of the World Cup this summer.

While the specifics of Ter Stegen’s current injury remain unclear, there has been no confirmation of any connection to his prior knee surgery. However, any extended period of recovery may hinder his chances of securing a transfer this month.

In the meantime, U.S. under-20 goalkeeper Diego Kochen will travel to Jeddah to serve as a backup for García and Wojciech Szczęsny during Wednesday’s Spanish Supercopa semifinal against Athletic Club.

Since joining Barcelona from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014, Ter Stegen has made over 400 appearances for the club but has been limited to just one match since his return from back issues in December. That appearance was in a Copa del Rey victory against Guadalajara. Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, has stated that García, a €25 million signing from Espanyol last summer, is now the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.

This situation places Ter Stegen in a challenging position as the World Cup year approaches. LaLiga side Girona has expressed interest in acquiring him this month, but the financial implications, including Ter Stegen’s considerable salary, complicate any potential move, even on a loan basis.

Barcelona’s squad arrived in Jeddah on Monday to prepare for Wednesday’s semifinal against Athletic Club, with the eventual winners set to face either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid in the final on Sunday.