Soccer-Barcelona sign keeper Garcia from rivals Espanyol
(Reuters) -Barcelona have signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol on a six-year contract, the LaLiga champions said on Wednesday after they met the Spaniard's release clause.
Espanyol said Garcia's 25 million euros ($28.75 million) release clause had been activated, ending his stint at the club he had been with since he was a 15-year-old. The Spain youth international also posted a video saying farewell to the fans.
The 24-year-old made more saves (146) than any other keeper in the 2024-25 LaLiga season while he was also one of just two players to play every minute of the campaign, along with Getafe keeper David Soria.
Garcia will provide competition for places in goal with German Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who missed most of the season due to knee surgery.
The club had to coax Wojciech Szczesny out of retirement and the Polish keeper made 30 appearances in their domestic treble-winning campaign.
While Barcelona topped the standings, Espanyol finished 14th, losing both home and away to Hansi Flick's side.
($1 = 0.8697 euros)
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru;Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Xavi application for India coaching job was a hoax, AIFF says
Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona Training - Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain - November 3, 2023 Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez with players during training REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo (Reuters) -The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed on Saturday that a job application attributed to former Barcelona manager and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez for the India head coaching role was a hoax. The AIFF's national team director told The Times of India on Thursday that Xavi's name was on the list of applicants. The report also quoted an AIFF technical committee member saying the his candidacy was deemed too expensive to pursue. "The AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine," the AIFF said in a statement. It had not been previously reported that the AIFF had also received an application purporting to be from Manchester City manager Guardiola. The AIFF Technical Committee said it had reviewed 170 applications for the Indian men's head coach role, narrowing the list to 10 before short-listing three candidates. The AIFF sacked former India manger Igor Stimac in June last year before appointing Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who left the job this month and returned to his role as coach of Indian Super League team FC Goa. (Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
The Star
16 hours ago
- The Star
Tennis-Shelton tops Tiafoe on sweltering night in Washington
Jul 25, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Ben Shelton (USA) hits a forehand against Frances Tiafoe (USA)(not pictured) in a men's singles quarter-final of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images (Reuters) -Ben Shelton beat fellow American Frances Tiafoe 7-6(2) 6-4 in an electrifying match at the Washington Open on Friday to advance to the semifinals on a day marked by suffocating humidity in the nation's capital. Shelton blasted an ace on match point to seal the win and avenge his five-set loss to Tiafoe at last year's U.S. Open as the 22-year-old continues to make strides in his breakout season. Hometown hero Tiafoe had the support of the energized crowd but lost momentum when he was unable to serve out the first set while up 6-5, leading to a tiebreak that Shelton dominated. The second set hinged on a marathon game at 3-3, where Shelton pocketed a break thanks to a Taifoe double fault. Shelton rode his huge lefty serve from there to grab the win and set up a semi-final meeting with either top seed Taylor Fritz or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. "It was a tough one for sure but enjoyable nonetheless," Shelton told Tennis Channel. "I love playing against Foe. Difficult guy to play against but playing him here in the U.S., especially being here in D.C., it was packed, it was a great atmosphere. I couldn't be happier." Earlier, tournament lucky loser Corentin Moutet stunned Russia's Daniil Medvedev 6-1 4-6 4-6 in a wild match interrupted by an hour-long delay due to the threat of thunderstorms. Moutet, leading 5-4 in the final set when they returned to the court, was hobbled by leg cramps but completed the upset in a final game that featured three double faults by Medvedev and a frantic match point. The Frenchman fell on his back in relief after securing the victory as Medvedev threw his racket and proceeded to take out his frustration on several water bottles, drawing boos from the crowd. "That is a great way to finish the match," said world number 59 Moutet. "I was with my coach when we were up 5-4 and I said okay, I have to win the next game because my body cannot handle too much more." Moutet will face Australian seventh seed Alex de Minaur, who was a 6-4 6-4 winner over Brandon Nakashima. On the women's side, Canadian Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu both overcame the stifling heat and their opponents to advance to the semifinals, setting up a potential rematch of the 2021 U.S. Open final that was won by the Englishwoman. For that to happen Raducanu, who beat Maria Sakkari in straight sets on Friday, will have to best Russian Anna Kalinskaya. Fernandez takes on third seed Elena Rybakina in the semis of the ATP and WTA 500 event on Saturday. (Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
The Star
18 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Argentine De Paul joins Inter Miami from Atletico
(Reuters) -Argentine midfielder Rodrigo de Paul has left Atletico Madrid and will join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, the LaLiga club announced Friday. "Rodrigo de Paul bids farewell to Atletico Madrid and will continue his professional career at Inter Miami," the club said in a statement. De Paul will join his compatriot and friend Lionel Messi, with whom he has won two Copa America titles, a Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup. The 31-year-old made nearly 200 appearances in four seasons under fellow Argentine coach Diego Simeone but leaves the Spanish capital without silverware. De Paul made his debut for Argentine club Racing Club in 2012 and has also played for Valencia and Serie A side Udinese. (Reporting by Javier Leira, writing by Janina Nuno Rios)
