With Manuel Neuer going back into retirement after the FIFA World Cup, the door has opened for a new talent to take over the throne as Germany's #1 goalkeeper. Marc-Andre ter Stegen's career seems to be fizzling out in the Netherlands, and Oliver Baumann is no spring chicken. All these signs point to Jürgen Klopp electing a younger option as his goalkeeper moving forward.
Jonas Urbig will be the first name for Bayern Munich fans to mention, and for good reason. However, there is another elite German goalkeeper, with much more experience thus far. This of course is SC Freiburg's Noah Atubolu. Reports from Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg claim that Atubolu has now transferred to fellow Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
While the reports indicate that Freiburg have loaned their star goalkeeper to Frankfurt, there is a mandatory buy clause included. While Freiburg actually finished higher than Frankfurt last season, this is generally seen as an upgrade for the German goalkeeper.
While Atubolu has been called up to the national team under Julian Nagelsmann, he has yet to appear in a match for Die Mannschaft. Klopp might have other ideas though with his reports of big change coming. With Neuer keeping Urbig in a secondary role for the moment, does it make sense for Atubolu to lead the team moving forward? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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#reports

Barcelona have confirmed an agreement with Ajax for the transfer of left-back Jofre Torrents. Before the official confirmation, Mundo Deportivo reported that the clubs had agreed the move and were finalising details for an official announcement. Torrents will join former teammate Marc-André ter Stegen in Amsterdam.
FC Barcelona confirmed the agreement on its official channels, thanking the La Masia product for his commitment, professionalism and dedication and wishing him well in the next stage of his career.
Jofre Torrents celebrates during a match for FC Barcelona.
Ajax first explored a loan for Torrents at the end of last season. Barcelona considered the possibility attractive because the defender had already made his first-team debut but faced strong competition in his position, with a move to Míchel's Ajax viewed as a suitable next step in his development.
That initial plan changed, with the clubs instead agreeing a permanent transfer. Barcelona have nevertheless structured the deal to retain an interest in Torrents' future.

#ajax

Barcelona superstar Joan Garcia has now been registered with La Liga heading into the new season with a new shirt number.
The goalkeeper, who joined from RCD Espanyol last year, will wear the No. 1 kit this season, taking over the number left vacant by Marc-Andre ter Stegen following his loan move to Ajax.
Meanwhile, veteran star Wojciech Szczesny, who wore No. 25 after joining Barcelona, will take No. 13, which was vacated by the World Cup winner after he returned to training last Sunday.
Garcia's registration this season is very different from last year's, when Barcelona completed the process at the last possible moment.
Courtesy: La Liga official website

#Barcelona #liga #espanyol #marc

German newcomers Marc-André ter Stegen and Julian Brandt made their Ajax debut with victory on Sunday, with Brandt scoring a goal.
The Dutch team kicked off the new league season with a 2-0 win over Zwolle.
Jorthy Mokio broke the deadlock for Ajax in the 76th minute, while Brandt sealed the win in stoppage-time after coming off the bench in the 62nd minute.
The midfielder didn't have his contract with Borussia Dortmund renewed and joined Ajax earlier this month on a deal until 2029.
Ter Stegen, meanwhile, joined on a one-year loan transfer from Barcelona, where he has a contract until 2028, but lost his place in the starting line-up last season after being plagued by injuries.

#brandt #minute #contract #german

Three members of the first-team ranks at La Liga champions Barcelona could find themselves donning the colours of Ajax for the duration of the 2026/27 campaign.
This comes amid the understanding that the Dutch outfit have earmarked yet another Blaugrana star as a potential summer signing.
Barca and Ajax are of course fresh off doing business on the transfer front, in a deal which took Marc-André ter Stegen from the former to the latter on a year-long loan.
Reports then swiftly followed that the parties are also in advanced negotiations over the terms of an agreement for young defender Jofre Torrents.
And if the latest word stemming from Spain is anything to go by, then Ajax's shopping spree in Catalunya's capital may not be finished there, either…

#ajax #liga #Barca

Marc-André ter Stegen completed his loan move to Ajax Amsterdam from FC Barcelona. The 34-year-old missed the World Cup due to injury as Germany instead recalled Manuel Neuer back from retirement.
Ter Stegen was part of Barcelona's last Champions League-winning squad in 2015. The former Borussia Mönchengladbach shot-stopper played 423 games for Barcelona before leaving the club for the first time at the start of the year.
His loan spell at fellow LaLiga side Girona was ended after only two games due to injury. However, Michel has seen enough to take him on loan for the second time after he joins Ajax following Girona's relegation from the Spanish top-flight.
Ter Stegen referred to his latest move as the "right option". The 44-time Germany international will be reunited with Julian Brandt at the Eredivisie club.

#Barcelona #injury

Marc-Andre ter Stegen has officially begun a new chapter in his career after completing a season-long loan move from FC Barcelona to Ajax.
The German goalkeeper, who will remain in Amsterdam until June 30, 2027, spoke publicly for the first time since leaving the Catalan club, expressing his excitement for the challenge ahead while delivering a clear message about his physical condition.
Following the announcement of his arrival, Ter Stegen admitted that negotiations took longer than expected but was delighted to finally complete the move.
"Good things take time. In the end everything worked out well, and I'm happy to be here," he said, as quoted by SPORT.
The deal was delayed by several issues, including tax-related matters and negotiations over how his salary would be divided between Barcelona and Ajax. Ultimately, the breakthrough arrived last weekend and the deal completed today.

#ajax #time #negotiations #deal

Dutch giants Ajax confirmed on Tuesday the signing of goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
Ter Stegen was a request from new Ajax manager Míchel who worked briefly with the German at Girona at the end of last season before Ter Stegen suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the World Cup.
The 34-year-old says he wants to help "bring Ajax back to where it belongs", and will be hoping to finally play a full season of football again after dealing with multiple major injuries in the last two years.
According to the latest reporting, Barça will cover 90% of Ter Stegen's salary during his time at Ajax but will be hoping that Ter Stegen's performances over a full season can convince Ajax or another club to sign him on a permanent deal next summer.
Good luck at Ajax, MATS!

#ajax #last #hoping

Marc-André ter Stegen is set to undergo a medical in Amsterdam before completing a season-long loan move to Ajax, with The Athletic reporting that the 34-year-old left Barcelona's pre-season camp in the United Kingdom on Thursday after the club gave him the green light to travel to the Netherlands. He will not feature in the Blaugrana's friendly against Birmingham City on July 31.
The Athletic first reported on July 3 that Ajax and Barcelona had reached a verbal agreement in principle over the loan, which would cover the entire 2026-27 season. What should have been a routine exit then stalled for the best part of a month over tax complications arising from the legal frameworks in Spain and the Netherlands – specifically, how the additional fiscal charges generated by paying a salary across two jurisdictions would be distributed between the parties.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen directs his teammates during a match for FC Barcelona.
Barcelona sources described the situation as considerably more complicated than initially anticipated, while those close to Ter Stegen's camp said the delays stemmed from a determination to structure the deal correctly rather than rush it through. Those issues were resolved on Thursday, clearing the path for him to fly to Amsterdam. As Ter Stegen himself acknowledged briefly at Birmingham Airport before boarding, the process was not quite finished: he still needs to complete his medical, finalise documentation and sign all relevant agreements before Ajax can formally announce the transfer.
The financial structure of the loan has been the defining complication throughout. Barcelona will continue to pay around 90 per cent of Ter Stegen's wages – a figure that could dip slightly depending on his involvement and achievements at Ajax, but only marginally. That is a consequence of the contract extension he signed in 2023, which was back-loaded with deferred salary payments and runs until 2028, leaving the Catalans carrying the bulk of his remuneration regardless of where he plays.

#stegen #marc #Athletic #thursday

Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen was set to travel to Amsterdam on Friday to undergo a medical at Ajax in a planned loan move from Barcelona, Spanish sports paper Marca has said.
Marca said that the clubs reached an agreement about the deal on Thursday after ter Stegen had agreed terms with the Dutch side at an earlier stage.
The clubs are yet to confirm the deal.
German international Ter Stegen, 34, has a Barcelona contract until 2028 but lost his place in the starting XI 12 months ago.
He went to Girona on loan in January but injured himself in the second match which also cost him playing for Germany at the recent World Cup.

#Barcelona #marca #loan #clubs

Marc-André ter Stegen is one step away from becoming Ajax's new goalkeeper. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the news with his trademark "Here we go," announcing that the signing will be made official this very weekend.
The deal went through moments of uncertainty due to disagreements between the two clubs. The high salary of the German international led to a tug-of-war over what percentage of his wages each side would cover.
In the end, the financial doubts faded after the final plan was clarified with Barça and the player's camp. Both boards gave the green light after resolving the financial split that had threatened the agreement.
The transfer timeline is already set: the goalkeeper is traveling to the Netherlands today. This Saturday he will undergo the required medical examination and put pen to paper on the official contract.
"There were never any doubts," Romano declared, sealing one of the biggest bombshells of the transfer window. Ter Stegen is now beginning a new chapter between the sticks in Amsterdam, bringing his long spell in Barcelona to an end.

#goalkeeper

Veteran goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen may have made his final appearance in an FC Barcelona shirt, reports Mundo Deportivo.
With his loan move to Ajax nearing completion, the Barcelona first captain featured in Friday's pre-season friendly against CE Europa, a match that could prove to be his farewell as a Blaugrana player.
Ter Stegen's proposed loan to Ajax is now in its final stages, and all indications suggest the deal will be completed in the coming days.
As a result, the 34-year-old is not expected to travel with Barcelona's squad to St. George's Park in England on Monday for the club's pre-season training camp.
Instead, he is likely to head to Amsterdam to begin the next chapter of his career under Ajax manager Michel.

#final #loan #andre

Barcelona have yet to make any significant moves in the market since signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.
However, following the sale of Ansu Fati and the expected loan exit for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Barcelona are once again looking out for options in the market.
One of the players who has emerged as a priority may not necessarily relate to the first team and is more of a target for the youth department.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have made a renewed effort to sign Jesse Bisiwu from Club Brugge this summer.
Deco travelled to Belgium to discuss the Bisiwu deal. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images)

A goalkeeper is not high on Barcelona’s list of transfer priorities as matters stand, especially given that they only signed Joan Garcia last summer.
The Spaniard arrived and took over as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper and even remained rock-solid in goal last season. He was, in fact, one of the driving forces behind the team’s success.
His arrival relegated Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to a fringe role at the club, especially given the German’s issues with form and fitness.
Heading into next season, Barcelona are looking to move the captain out of the club, and will count on Szczesny as their backup option after Garcia.
Wojciech Szczesny’s future will decide Barcelona’s course of action. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is all set to become the next Barcelona player leaving the club this summer after Ansu Fati.
The German keeper is set for a loan move to Ajax, with Fabrizio Romano already giving his customary ‘here we go’ for the deal.
It is understood that Barcelona would cover the bulk of Ter Stegen’s salary, possibly reaching around 85%, while Ajax will pay the rest. This is not the kind of financial relief the club were hoping for.
Ter Stegen set for a move to Ajax. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
A recent report from Mundo Deportivo has added another caveat to this.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen appears determined to accelerate the next chapter of his career after cutting short his summer break and returning to Barcelona ahead of a potential move to Ajax.
According to Gerard Romero on Jijantes, the German goalkeeper is already waiting for the final approval from Barcelona to complete a loan switch to the Dutch giants.
Notably, personal terms are understood to be in place, leaving the clubs to resolve the remaining details before the operation can move forward.
After spending more than a decade at Camp Nou, the experienced shot-stopper now seems increasingly close to embarking on a fresh challenge elsewhere.
The Marc-Andre ter Stegen Ajax operation has been progressing steadily in recent weeks.

Ajax have officially begun preparations for the 2026/27 season, but one of the club’s biggest priorities remains unresolved.
The Dutch giants are pushing to complete the signing of out-of-favour Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the German goalkeeper hoping to join Michel’s squad as early as next week.
All parties remain aligned on the objective, yet the final agreement continues to depend on Barcelona’s approval of the financial structure of the deal, reports SPORT.
As per the report, Ter Stegen has already informed Ajax director Jordi Cruyff and manager Michel that he is fully committed to joining Ajax.
The sporting project convinced him immediately, while the opportunity to become the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper and begin a new chapter in his career also appealed on a personal level.

Barcelona know who their goalkeepers will be next season, which is why finding a solution for Marc-Andre ter Stegen is proving to be a massive headache.
It has been known for a while that the German goalkeeper’s future remains one of the most delicate issues facing the club this summer.
Since Joan Garcia will be Barcelona’s long-term No. 1 and Wojciech Szczęsny is expected to continue as backup, Ter Stegen’s situation remains unresolved.
Right now, the Blaugrana are open to move on from the veteran goalkeeper, but several factors are making that objective far more difficult than expected.
What is certain regarding Barcelona’s goalkeeping position is that there is little uncertainty regarding the pecking order between the posts.

There will never be another footballer quite like Divock Origi.
Footballers' careers are short at the best of times, but it is hard to imagine another player's career that could be so aptly described as lightning in a bottle.
And not just lightning of a common variety - the best kind of lightning. The kind that wins you Champions Leagues and Premier Leagues. The kind that produces moments that you tell your children about.
I was there when Origi scooped it past a helpless Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the Kop End to send Liverpool to Madrid. I was in the wide sloping stands of the Metropolitano Stadium when he scooped it past a despairing Hugo Lloris to stamp the passport of a sixth European cup - destination Anfield - back where it belonged.
Goals like that don't come along too often.