Reader TTS

JOAN GARCIA HAD BEEN LINKED WITH MULTIPLE PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS INCLUDING ARSENAL BUT BARCELONA LOOK TO HAVE WON THE RACE FOR THE HIGHLY-RATED SPANISH GOALKEEPER 07:00, 03 Jun 2025Updated

07:07, 03 Jun 2025 Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Arsenal target Joan Garcia, who will join the La Liga champions immediately rather than go out on loan. Garcia, 24, was the subject of

interest from Arsenal but the goalkeeper will now join Barca on a five-year contract from local rivals Espanyol. Hansi Flick's title winners have agreed to pay his £21million release

clause and hope that the deal will be completed by next week. After helping Espanyol avoid relegation from La Liga this season thanks to a string of impressive performances, Garcia was

tipped for a move to the Premier League. Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle were all linked as well as German side Bayer Leverkusen. But Barcelona have quickly emerged as the frontrunners

and it was initially suggested that he'd be loaned out next season. Valencia was a rumoured destination, as they've waved goodbye to Liverpool-bound Giorgi Mamardashvili. According

to Sport, however, Garcia will go straight into Barcelona's squad and fight for the gloves. That's despite club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen returning to fitness after

seven-month layoff and Barca offering Wojciech Szczesny a new one-year contract. Former Arsenal shot-stopper Szczesny's future is yet to be confirmed, although multiple reports say that

the 35-year-old will extend his stay in Catalunya after coming out of retirement in September. READ MORE: UEFA agree Champions League rule change next season after Arsenal controversyREAD

MORE: Chelsea set to beat Arsenal and Liverpool to transfer as club chief says deal could happen Garcia therefore has a tough task to become Flick's first choice but he's

determined not to sit on the bench. "All players want to play," he told Catalunya Radio. "I've been playing for a year and a half, and I want to continue doing so.

I'm young and that's very important." Article continues below In the same interview, the Olympic gold medalist revealed that his phone had been 'saturated' with

messages about his future. Garcia also doesn't mind leaving Espanyol for their rivals. "It wouldn't be a problem to face Espanyol," he said to the same outlet last week.

"It would also be nice to play against them. These are things that can happen, but I try to look on the positive side of things, and if it happens, I would be excited." WHICH

GOALKEEPER SHOULD ARSENAL NOW? LET US KNOW YOUR PICK IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. Garcia's arrival also throws the future of Ter Stegen up in the air. The Germany international has no

intention of leaving, despite reports that Flick would be open to selling him. "No one has told me about this, so I don't know the situation," Ter Stegen said earlier this

week. "I'm not worried. I know that I will be at Barcelona next year. Article continues below "If I remember correctly, and if no news has happened in the last few hours, we

only have two goalkeepers for next season, Inaki [Pena] and me." _Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of MIRROR FOOTBALL content. We also treat our community

members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read

our __Privacy Notice._ Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£43 £35 Sky Get the deal here Sky has slashed the price of its ESSENTIAL TV AND SKY SPORTS bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches

across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.