Marc-Andre ter Stegen Archives

Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to undergo surgery

Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will undergo surgery on his injured hamstring on Friday, his club Girona confirmed on Wednesday.

Ter Stegen injured his hamstring while playing for the La Liga club last weekend.

Girona posted on social media that the 33-year-old “will undergo surgery this Friday for the hamstring injury he sustained in his left thigh”.

Girona added that a recovery timeline will be determined after the operation.

Ter Stegen had moved to Girona from parent club Barcelona in January in hopes of additional game time in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, which gets underway in just over four months.

Spanish media reported that Girona were considering sending the injured goalkeeper back to Barcelona and were permitted to do so under the loan agreement.

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The news is the latest setback for Germany’s number one keeper, whose participation at the World Cup is in doubt.

Germany’s number one since the retirement of Manuel Neuer in 2024, Ter Stegen has suffered a series of injury setbacks.

On Tuesday, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann backed Ter Stegen after the “unbelievably cruel” injury.

“Right now all that matters is that he gets healthy in peace, without any additional pressure. We’re all behind him,” Nagelsmann said.

Nagelsmann confirmed Ter Stegen would be out until at least April, missing two Germany friendlies in March.

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Flick confirms ter Stegen’s loan exit from Barcelona

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick confirmed Tuesday reports that veteran goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will join neighbours Girona on loan.

Flick confirms ter Stegen’s loan exit from Barcelona

Germany international Ter Stegen has fallen behind Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny in the pecking order at Barca.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon the 33-year-old stopper needs to play regularly to make his case to start for Germany at the tournament.

“This morning Marc said that he is going to Girona,” Flick told a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash at Slavia Prague.

“I think Marc is a fantastic goalkeeper. We decided (to go a) different (way) for the future for the club and I think it was the right decision. But I wish him all the best because he is a fantastic goalkeeper.

“Maybe we see him in the German national team in the World Cup. (My) fingers are crossed for this and I think he has good chances.”

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Ter Stegen, who joined Barca from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014, has won six La Liga titles with Barca and the Champions League once, among other silverware.

The goalkeeper missed much of last season with a severe knee injury, leading to Barca bringing Szczesny out of retirement to take his place.

Another injury kept Ter Stegen out of action during much of the current campaign, in which he has made only one appearance.

Ter Stegen did not travel to Prague, where Barca are aiming to secure a top eight finish in the league phase of the Champions League.

They are also without the suspended Lamine Yamal for Wednesday’s match, which will take place in sub-zero conditions.

“The good thing is that (the players) have to run because it’s warmer,” joked Flick.

Barca’s 11-game winning run came to an end with a defeat at Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday.

Flick said it could make his team improve, particularly in their finishing.

“We played on the highest level and this is what I want to see, it was better to lose (like) this instead of showing a bad performance,” added Flick.

“I think this could give us a little bit more confidence to believe in what we are doing… but I think we have to be more (accurate) in front of goal, this is what I want to see from the team.”

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Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen validated as long-term injury by La Liga

Barcelona announced on Wednesday the long-term injury validation of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen by the Spanish league, meaning the club can register new signing Joan Garcia without breaking financial fair play rules.

“LaLiga’s Medical Committee has ruled that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury meets the long-term injury criteria established by current regulations,” Barcelona said in a statement on their website.

“The club will proceed tomorrow (Thursday) to immediately formalise the registration of player Joan Garcia.”

After two seasons marred by serious injuries, Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen underwent back surgery last month.

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However, the 33-year-old had refused up until last Friday to release his medical details as Barcelona tried to have him classified by La Liga as a long-term injury, which would allow them to deduct part of his pay from their official wage bill.

The Catalan club had planned to use the German’s long-term absence to register their new recruits while remaining within the financial fair play rules.

In addition to the recruitment of 24-year-old shotstopper Garcia, Barcelona extended the contract of veteran Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny this summer.

It’s worth noting that Joan García will be available for Saturday’s league opener against Mallorca after La Liga granted the club permission to use salary space allocated for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

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Barcelona look smooth in Como demolition as Ter Stegen buries hatchet

Reigning Spanish champions Barcelona completed their pre-season preparations by thrashing Italian side Como 5-0 on Sunday in a game which signalled a thawing of relations with goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

Barcelona also gave Marcus Rashford a substitute appearance two weeks after the England forward joined on loan from Manchester United.

Double strikes from Fermín Lopez and Lamine Yamal and a first-half goal from Brazilian Raphinha completed the rout in the Joan Gamper Trophy.

Played at the Johan Cruyff Stadium within the team’s training complex, while Barcelona wait for the heavily delayed modernisation of the Camp Nou to be completed, Hansi Flick’s team showed fluency as they prepare to begin their Liga title defence away to Mallorca on Saturday.

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Before kickoff on Sunday, Ter Stegen gave the traditional captain’s speech from the pitch, just days after his dispute with the club over the handling of his back injury broke to the surface.

“I think it was important to resolve the issue between the club and me, and now it’s time to look forward,” said the 33-year-old German goalkeeper, two days after having the captaincy restored.

“We’re going to fight again for all the trophies and we hope that with your help we can win all the titles possible,” Marc-Andre Ter Stegen told the fans.

Rashford suffered mixed fortunes, providing the cross for Raphinha to score but also blowing the chance to tap into an empty net.

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Barcelona reinstate Marc-Andre ter Stegen as captain

Barcelona on Friday reinstated goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen as captain after resolving a dispute over the German’s fitness.

The club had started disciplinary action on Tuesday and stripped Ter Stegen of the club captaincy on Thursday over a row concerning his fitness after he underwent back surgery at the end of July.

Local media reported that the 33-year-old had refused to cooperate and release his medical details, so the club tried to have him classified by La Liga as a long-term injury, which would allow Barcelona to deduct part of his pay from their official wage bill.

But in a late-night statement, Barcelona reported the player had signed the necessary paperwork.

“The disciplinary file is considered closed and the player regains the first team captaincy with immediate effect,” Barca added.

Earlier Friday, Ter Stegen had taken to social media to defend himself.

“In recent weeks, many things have been said about me – some of them entirely unfounded,” he wrote on Instagram. “Therefore, I feel it is necessary to express my version of events respectfully, yet clearly.”

“I am fully willing to collaborate with the club’s management to resolve this matter and to provide the requested authorisation,” Ter Stegen wrote.

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With the new Liga season approaching, Barcelona are again struggling to satisfy Spanish financial fair play rules. If they cannot, they may not be able to register new players.

Ter Stegen said if the club was in a financial bind, it should not blame his back problems.

“I would also like to clarify that all of the club’s signings and contract renewals were completed prior to my surgery,” he wrote.

“The decision to undergo surgery was fully approved by the club, and always with the intention of prioritising my health and long-term sporting career, which of course are fully aligned with those of FCB, to have myself available on the pitch as soon as possible to keep winning trophies.”

He added that his new surgery should not interfere with the “registration of other colleagues whom I greatly respect and look forward to share locker room with for many seasons”.

“My commitment to these colors remains absolute.”

Ter Stegen’s place is under threat from one of the summer signings, 24-year-old Joan Garcia, and 35-year-old Wojciech Szczesny, the Polish veteran who has been rewarded with a contract extension for taking over during last season’s Liga title-winning campaign.

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Barcelona strip Marc-Andre ter Stegen of captain’s armband

Barcelona on Thursday said they had stripped Marc-Andre ter Stegen of the captain’s armband in a continuing dispute over the German goalkeeper’s fitness status.

“As a consequence of the disciplinary proceedings initiated against player Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and until such proceedings are definitively resolved, the club… has decided to temporarily remove him as captain of the first football team,” Barca said in a statement.

They said vice-captain Ronald Araujo, a Uruguayan defender, would take over.

According to local media, the dispute centres on 33-year-old Ter Stegen’s refusal to cooperate with an attempt to have him classified by La Liga as a long-term injury case, which would allow the club to deduct part of his pay from their official wage bill.

With the new Liga season approaching, Barcelona are again struggling to satisfy Spanish financial fair play rules. If they cannot, they may not be able to register new players.

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The club plans to partly reopen its expensively renovated Camp Nou stadium this month.

After two seasons marred by injury, Ter Stegen decided to undergo back surgery at the end of July.

He has refused to sign a form releasing his medical data to La Liga, preventing Barcelona’s attempt to have him officially declared a long-term absentee.

His place is under threat from one of the summer signings, 24-year-old Joan Garcia, and 35-year-old Wojciech Szczesny, the Polish veteran who has been rewarded with a contract extension for taking over during last season’s Liga title-winning campaign.

The German goalkeeper, the last remaining member of Luis Enrique’s 2015 European champion team, faces heavy penalties under La Liga regulations, including the termination of his contract.

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Barcelona goalkeeper Ter Stegen set to miss season after knee operation

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen could miss the rest of the season injured after the Catalan club said Monday he had completed knee surgery following a tendon rupture.

The 32-year-old German international was taken off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly during his team’s 5-1 La Liga victory over Villarreal on Sunday.

“(Ter Stegen) has a complete rupture in the patella tendon in his right knee,” said Barcelona in a statement, with the club later confirming the goalkeeper had been successfully operated on.

Spanish reports suggest he will miss around eight months, which means he is unlikely to appear for the club again in the current campaign.

Ter Stegen, who was criticised after making a mistake in Barcelona’s 2-1 Champions League defeat at Monaco on Thursday, suffered the injury before half-time at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica.

“I think it will be a huge injury when he lay down on the field… you can see it directly,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said after the game.

Inaki Pena replaced Ter Stegen and is set to fill in for the German, although Barcelona may look to sign a replacement.

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Flick said it was too soon to comment on the issue. “I don’t know if I like this question directly after the match,” said Flick.

“I just want to see how Marc is, he’s our captain and is a very important player for us,” he added.

Pena, 25, made 12 La Liga appearances for Barcelona last season while Ter Stegen was sidelined with a back problem.

Ter Stegen started two Nations League matches for Germany in September after Bayern Munich veteran Manuel Neuer’s retirement from international duty in August.

Germany could turn to Stuttgart’s Alexander Nuebel, on loan from Bayern Munich, or Hoffenheim veteran Oliver Baumann as their number one.

“The news of Marc’s injury came as a great shock to us. He will be sorely missed in the national team, both on and off the pitch,” said Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. “We will always be there for him on his road back.”

Ter Stegen was also offered support by Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “I want to say that I’m really sorry for Ter Stegen… I hope he can recover soon,” Ancelotti told reporters.

“He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I hope his recovery is as quick as possible.”

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