Wojciech Szczesny completes his free transfer to Barcelona just 36 DAYS after retiring from football… and shares an emotional message with fans as he steps in to replace injured goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Wojciech Szczesny becomes the latest man to grace Barcelona’s goalposts after his move to the Catalan giants on a one-year deal was confirmed.
The former Arsenal stopper announced his retirement from football at the end of August at the age of 34, claiming he wanted to focus on his family.
But a season-ending knee injury to first-choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen left Barca scrambling and Szczesny has now retired 36 days after his bliss.
Ter Stegen was stretchered off the field against Villarreal in September after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee, which connects the kneecap to the shinbone. He was later pictured in a wheelchair in hospital.
“I am very proud to be a Barcelona player,” Szczesny said in a short video. ‘Visca el Barca (Long live Barca!)’
Wojciech Szczesny has signed for Barcelona 36 days after his retirement as emergency cover for Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Polish custodian Szczesny retired after his contract with Juventus expired.
He won three Serie A titles and three Coppa Italia trophies with the Turin giants after playing for Brentford, Arsenal and Roma. He won the FA Cup twice with Arsenal.
Szczesny also collected 84 caps for Poland in an international career from 2009 to 2024, playing at four European Championships and two World Cups.
Barcelona’s options to bring in a replacement were limited after an earlier ruling decided that clubs would no longer be able to sign a player from another club, as they did in the case of Leganes’ Martin Braithwaite in 2020.
Szczesny was among the shortlist of names set to step between the posts for the LaLiga and Champions League participants, as well as former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, 37.
The club can pay him up to 80 percent of Ter Stegen’s £7.5 million salary.
More to follow.
