FC Barcelona are moving closer to resolving one of the more complicated personnel situations of the summer, with Marc-André ter Stegen on the verge of departing on loan to Ajax. According to SPORT, corroborated by transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano, the two clubs have reached a verbal agreement in principle on a season-long loan, with the 34-year-old goalkeeper having given his own approval to the move.
The deal, as Romano confirmed, runs until the end of June 2027 – a straight loan with Ajax covering the majority of his wages, though Barcelona will continue to absorb a significant portion of his salary given that his contract with the Catalan club does not expire until 2028. SPORT has reported that both clubs have agreed on the financial framework, and the Blaugrana are now waiting to receive official documentation before authorising ter Stegen to travel to Amsterdam. That authorisation is expected to be granted next week.
The primary source also notes that a purchase option will form part of the final agreement, with precise details to be confirmed once all contracts are signed – a structure that leaves Barcelona with a potential exit route from the remaining year of his deal beyond the loan period. Barcelona’s broader hope is that a strong season in the Eredivisie rebuilds ter Stegen’s market value and generates permanent offers next summer. Earlier reporting on the wage negotiation obstacles that complicated this deal illustrates how much structural groundwork was required before either club could commit, and a subsequent resolution of outstanding financial complications – covered in detail in our earlier piece on how those issues were resolved – ultimately cleared the path to this agreement in principle.
Before any official announcement can be made, Ajax want ter Stegen to undergo a comprehensive medical examination in Amsterdam. Barcelona have declared the goalkeeper fit following both his back problems and the hamstring surgery that cut short his previous campaign – an injury sustained during his loan spell at Girona that also cost him a place in Germany’s World Cup squad. Ajax’s insistence on a thorough assessment before finalising paperwork is standard procedure given the nature of those recent injuries, and the club considers the transfer all but complete pending that step.
The role of Ajax head coach Michel proved decisive in ter Stegen’s decision. The Spanish coach had already worked with the goalkeeper during the Girona loan and made him his first-choice keeper immediately upon arrival, and the opportunity to resume that relationship was a significant factor in ter Stegen choosing Ajax over other interested parties. Ajax sporting director Jordi Cruyff, who retains strong ties to Barcelona, led the negotiations alongside Deco on the Blaugrana side.
The timing of the loan carries European implications for Ajax, who need ter Stegen registered before 31 July to include him in their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying campaign. The Dutch club are well-placed to progress through the current qualifying round following a 4-1 first-leg victory over Vojvodina Novi Sad, which makes the registration deadline a live operational concern rather than a formality. For Barcelona, the departure fits into a broader summer of squad reconfiguration – one that has also been shaped by significant injury news elsewhere in the squad, including Frenkie de Jong’s knee injury and its knock-on effects on planning.
An official announcement is not expected for several more days, with the medical examination and contract paperwork representing the final steps before the move is formally confirmed.