Loan deals are primarily used to improve younger players, but Barcelona have taken full advantage of the loan system with former captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The Spanish giants sent the Germany international out on loan to Ajax this summer in a bid to get him to rediscover his peak sharpness under manager Michel.
He has hit the ground running in Amsterdam, starring for the Dutch giants and earning a recall to the Germany national team.
The loan deal is working out for all parties involved, as it protects the value of the 34-year-old and allows Barcelona to extract the maximum possible fee from his transfer, while giving him an opportunity to secure a permanent move.
Why Barcelona Are Planning a Permanent Marc-Andre ter Stegen Exit
For Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the writing has been on the wall since Hansi Flick's arrival at Barcelona in the summer of 2024.
The Germany international sustained a serious knee injury in September 2024, leaving him sidelined for more than seven months.
Ter Stegen's injury prompted Barcelona to consider their succession plan between the sticks, while also persuading Wojciech Szczesny to reverse his retirement decision and sign for the club.
The next summer, they signed highly rated young goalkeeper Joan Garcia as they reshaped their goalkeeping options alongside the recovering Ter Stegen and Szczesny.
Despite facing increased competition for the starting role, Ter Stegen opted to remain at the club, making just one Copa del Rey appearance in the first half of the 2025-26 season.
By January, he reached an agreement with the club to leave on loan, joining Girona for the second half of the season.
He played just two games before sustaining a serious hamstring injury, which kept him sidelined until the end of the season.
With the signings of Joan Garcia and Szczesny, the club had already reshaped its goalkeeping options, but Ter Stegen's fitness problems complicated the prospect of a permanent move.
The loan move to Ajax gives the Germany international an opportunity to secure regular starting minutes, with his Barcelona contract running until 2028.
He has established himself as the undisputed first-choice over in Amsterdam, appearing eight times across all competitions so far this season.
According to Sport, Barca are now lining up a summer sale in 2027 to finally bring his time at the club to an end.
Ter Stegen could attract interest if he maintains his form in the Netherlands, particularly given his experience at the highest level.
Barcelona hope to secure a transfer fee for the German, while reports have indicated that several Premier League clubs are monitoring his situation.
Barcelona's Goalkeeper Hierarchy as Marc-Andre ter Stegen Exit Nears
Barcelona have signed three senior goalkeepers in the last two years, preparing for the end of Marc-Andre ter Stegen's impressive spell in Spain.
Signed from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014, ter Stegen has made 423 appearances for Barcelona and is the club's second-highest foreign appearance-maker, behind only Lionel Messi.
The signing of Szczesny was meant to be a short-term fix, and the veteran Pole provided adequate cover until the club signed Joan Garcia from neighbours Espanyol.
Garcia is the club's clear first-choice between the sticks and has impressed since moving to the Spotify Camp Nou, while Szczesny served as the second-choice between the sticks.
With Szczesny entering the final year of his contract his summer, the club signed Dominik Livakovic from Fenerbahce to bolster their goalkeeping ranks as another back-up option.
The signing of Croatia international Livakovic completely closed the door to a return for ter Stegen, as he will serve as the second-choice behind Garcia after Szczesny leaves at the end of the season.
Newly declared as Germany's number one by new head coach Jurgen Klopp, ter Stegen will be keen to find a permanent home once his loan spell is over.
