Fabrizio Romano has broken the news of Barcelona captain Marc-Andre Ter Stegen completing a temporary move to Eredivisie giants Ajax.
The Germany international is set to spend the 2026-27 season in the Netherlands as he looks to return to his best level following his nightmarish injury problems.
Fabrizio Romano Drops "Here We Go" on Ter Stegen’s Loan to Ajax
Reputable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Ter Stegen will join Ajax for a season.
The Dutch side will cover the majority of the goalkeeper's substantial wages, freeing up some space on the wage bill of the Spanish giants.
Ter Stegen has agreed to move to the Netherlands, where he will reunite with coach Michel in Amsterdam.
He has given his approval to the move, and will travel to Amsterdam imminently to complete the formalities of his transfer, including a medical examination.
Why Barcelona Sanctioned Their Captain's Exit
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick made it clear that he does not rely on long-serving goalkeeper Ter Stegen with his moves in the transfer market.
The German star suffered a horrific knee injury at the start of the coach's spell in charge in the 2024-25 season, which left him sidelined for almost the entirety of the campaign.
He had started the season as first-choice under Flick, but the emergence of Inaki Pena and the club's decision to sign Wojciech Szczesny meant that he fell down the pecking order.
Ter Stegen opted to remain at the club for the following season, even after they signed Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia from rivals Espanyol.
Barcelona and their captain got into a public dispute over a back injury at the start of the 2025-26 season, and he once again missed a huge chunk of the first half of the season through injury.
The goalkeeper left the club for Girona on loan in January 2026 in search of regular minutes, but suffered a season-ending hamstring injury after just two games for his new club.
A Barcelona player for over a decade, Ter Stegen has played 423 times for the club, but is unlikely to play another game, hence the club's decision to let him leave on loan.
The move has a significant financial benefit to the club, who fell foul of La Liga's strict wage bill regulations in the past.
By moving their big-earning third-choice goalkeeper, they have managed to free up some space to add other players to their roster.
Why Ajax Was the Right Move for Ter Stegen
The German international has accepted a move to Ajax to be reunited with former coach Michel, who is in charge of the Dutch giants.
Michel was Girona manager when Ter Stegen joined them in January but sadly did not get to see the goalkeeper perform at his best before injury hit.
The Spanish tactician moved to Ajax after Girona's relegation, and he has opted to have Ter Stegen join the club as a source of experience and quality in his position.
Also, Ajax sporting director Jordi Cruyff is familiar with the goalkeeper, having worked with him at Barcelona in the past.
Ter Stegen would have been hugely disappointed to miss out on Germany's FIFA World Cup squad this summer due to a lack of game time and fitness.
The 34-year-old will aim to recapture his best form and find his best level following his move to the Netherlands, where he will get a fresh start.
