Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia from city rivals Espanyol after triggering his release clause for a reported fee of €26.3 million.
The Blaugrana have now recruited one of the most sort after goalkeepers on the market, despite interest from a number of Premier League clubs.
The decision was made by Garcia, as the only way to secure a move was for his release clause to be activated and despite glimpses of affection shown by the player towards his former team, it has not prevented a transfer to eternal rivals Barcelona – where he is expected to play a decisive role.
The Catalan giants will now look to track the sale of Inaki Pena and captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen – and keep Wojciech Szczesny as the reserve goalkeeper.
Garcia was a standout performer in LaLiga this past season – qnd was the leader in terms of saves, racking up 146 saves, 14 ahead of his nearest challenger as he kept eight clean sheets.
“The time has come for us to part ways. Today, I have to say goodbye to the club that has been my home since I was 15 years old. During all this time, I have tried to grow every day as a footballer and as a person, always with humility, effort, and the pride of defending the goal of RCD Espanyol,” he said.
“I have given everything I had inside me to help the team, to represent this crest with the utmost dedication and to live up to what it means to defend this shirt,” said Garcia in his farewell to Espanyol.
“I know that this decision will not be easy for everyone to understand. I’m not asking you to do so. But I do want you to know that it has been a very well thought-out decision, thinking not only about my career but also about what is best for the club, for my family and for me.
“It is not just any goodbye, it is a stage that is closing with the conviction that everything I have experienced has made me better.”
