Marc-Andre ter Stegen set for Ajax loan as Barcelona agree season-long move

Barcelona have announced that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will join Ajax on loan until 30 June 2027, bringing an end to a period in which the Germany international had fallen out of favour at the Catalan club.

The move is for one season and follows Barcelona’s strong desire to part with ter Stegen because of his substantial salary and the loss of his place in the team’s starting line-up.

In a statement published on their official website, Barcelona said: “The club announces that it has reached an agreement with Ajax for the loan of their German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen until 30 June 2027.”

The transfer will give ter Stegen the opportunity to work again with Ajax manager Michel. It will be the goalkeeper’s second loan spell under the coach, although his previous spell with Girona was heavily limited by injury.

Barcelona said: “The German goalkeeper is preparing to embark on his second loan experience under manager Michel. Although he made only two appearances during his time with Girona because of injury, the pair will meet again at a club that has won four European Cups and 36 league titles, along with many other trophies and achievements.”

Ter Stegen joined Barcelona’s senior set-up and went on to establish himself as one of the club’s most experienced players. He was part of the side that won the Champions League in 2015 and has collected 21 trophies during his time at the club.

The 423 appearances he has made for Barcelona place him 11th in the club’s list of players with the most official matches. He is also second among the club’s foreign players for appearances, with only Lionel Messi having played more.

Barcelona added: “Ter Stegen now hopes, during his experience with Ajax, to regain the outstanding level he has displayed on many occasions during his time with Barcelona.”

The agreement gives the goalkeeper a fresh opportunity after his role in the Barcelona side was reduced. The club’s decision reflects both the financial importance of his departure and the fact that he was no longer occupying the first-choice position in the team.

His next spell will take him to Ajax, a club whose history includes four European Cups and 36 domestic league titles. The move also reunites him with Michel, despite their previous collaboration at Girona being interrupted by ter Stegen’s injury after only two matches.

For Barcelona, ter Stegen’s departure marks a temporary separation from a player who has made 423 official appearances and won 21 honours with the club. For the goalkeeper, the loan represents a chance to rebuild his form and return to the level he has shown throughout significant parts of his Barcelona career.