Barcelona have won the race to sign highly rated Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
They have fended off interest from Arsenal and Newcastle United, who were keen to sign Garcia this summer.
The 24-year-old was also linked with a move to Manchester United as a potential replacement for Andre Onana.
But Barca have wrapped up a deal for the promising goalkeeper, with the final formalities set to be completed in the coming days.
The La Liga champions will pay Garcia’s £21 million release clause, and he is expected to sign a five-year contract keeping him at Spotify Camp Nou until 2030.
The agreement between Barca and Garcia has been in place for several days, with all contract details signed off by last Friday.
The process reportedly moved so fast that even Garcia was caught off guard, but he was impressed by the clarity and ambition shown by Barcelona.
They made it clear that Garcia would be handed a first-team spot.
He is seen as a cornerstone for the future, and once the club gave him the sporting assurances he needed, financial terms were a formality.
Arsenal were keen on Garcia, but he didn’t want to play second fiddle to David Raya, and a move to Barca was more appealing than joining Newcastle.
United never acted on their interest, with the club keeping faith in Onana.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is expected to sit down with club president Joan Laporta and manager Hansi Flick for showdown talks about his future.
The German missed a significant chunk of the season due to injury but returned to top form in the Nations League, even though Germany were knocked out in the semi-final.
Ter Stegen wants to remain Barca’s first-choice goalie, but Garcia’s imminent arrival threatens his position.
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