Wojciech Szczesny ‘agrees to join Barcelona’ as the former Arsenal goalkeeper ‘comes out of retirement’ to cover for injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Wojciech Szczesny is expected to join Barcelona as a replacement goalkeeper after an agreement was reached with the European giants, sources have reported.
The Polish goalkeeper decided to retire from football after his contract with Juventus expired, but is now making a spectacular comeback at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
An agreement has been reached between the parties involved after a shock knee injury to Barcelona’s No.1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen ended his season prematurely, Fabrizio Romano reported.
Ter Stegen, 32, was carried off the pitch on a stretcher during Barça’s 5-1 win over Villarreal, with manager Hansi Flick immediately recognising it was a “huge injury”, he told DAZN.
The Germany international has torn the patellar tendon – the connection between the kneecap and the shinbone – in his right knee and has been examined in hospital in Villarreal.
Wojciech Szczesny reportedly set to join Barcelona as emergency goalkeeper
Barcelona’s number 1 Marc-André ter Stegen has suffered an injury that will make the season impossible
Ter Stegen had to be carried off the field on a stretcher after suffering a knee injury last weekend
Barcelona’s options for signing a replacement were limited after a previous ruling banned clubs from signing players from another club, as in the case of Leganes’ Martin Braithwaite in 2020.
Szczesny was among the nominees to fill the space between the posts at the La Liga and Champions League club, as was former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Barcelona are now set to officially sign the former Gunner, who previously won two FA Cups during his time in North London, on a one-year deal as he comes out of retirement.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Szczesny is set to sign a one-year deal with Barcelona
He will undergo a medical later this week in Spain, after which he will join the rest of Hansi Flick’s squad.
The club is also allowed to pay him up to 80 percent of Ter Stegen’s £7.5 million salary.
Szczesny had previously announced that he would retire from football in August after his contract with Juventus was mutually terminated at the end of last season.
The 34-year-old, who has made 84 caps for Poland, has made 200 appearances for Juventus in the seven years since joining from Arsenal for £12.5million.
