Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has successfully undergone surgery to address a persistent lower back injury, the club announced. This procedure, performed by Dr. Amélie Léglise at the Sports Clinic Bordeaux Merignac, throws his future at the Camp Nou into question.
Ter Stegen, who joined Barcelona from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014, initially served as Claudio Bravo's understudy before solidifying his position as the first-choice goalkeeper from 2016-17. His career, however, was interrupted by a patellar tendon rupture in 2024-25, which sidelined him for a significant portion of the season. During his absence, Wojciech Szczesny, making a comeback from retirement, and Inaki Pena filled in admirably.
Barcelona's recent signing of Joan Garcia from Espanyol for a reported €25 million, coupled with the emergence of other talented goalkeepers, has led to speculation regarding Ter Stegen's long-term prospects with the club. His substantial salary is also a factor in Barcelona's reported consideration of a transfer. Adding to the uncertainty, reports indicated that the club was not initially informed of Ter Stegen's surgical plans, and he missed the team's pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea.
The 33-year-old German international, who boasts 422 appearances and 174 clean sheets for Barcelona, is now expected to be sidelined for three months. His recovery period will dictate his return to the pitch. His impressive record, surpassed in shutouts only by Jan Oblak and Manuel Neuer among European top-five league goalkeepers, highlights his significant contribution to the club.
Barcelona continue their pre-season preparations without him, playing against FC Seoul following a victory against Vissel Kobe. While his surgical procedure was successful, Ter Stegen's future at Barcelona remains uncertain as the club weighs various options.
