Marc-André ter Stegen has travelled to Amsterdam to undergo a medical with Ajax after Barcelona resolved the tax complications that had stalled his season-long loan move. The 34-year-old departed the club’s pre-season camp in the United Kingdom on Thursday following clearance from the Catalan side, and he will not participate in the friendly fixture against Birmingham City on July 31.
The Germany international is set to spend the entire 2026-27 campaign with the Eredivisie club. The Athletic reports that a verbal agreement between the two clubs had been reached on July 3, yet the transfer stalled for nearly a month due to fiscal disputes regarding how additional charges generated by paying a salary across Spanish and Dutch jurisdictions would be distributed. Barcelona sources described the situation as considerably more complicated than initially anticipated, while those close to Ter Stegen maintained that the delays stemmed from a determination to structure the deal correctly rather than rush through the paperwork.
Financial Arrangements
Barcelona will shoulder approximately 90 per cent of Ter Stegen’s wages during the loan period, a figure that may decrease only marginally depending on his performances and appearances for Ajax. This arrangement stems from the contract extension he signed in 2023, which runs until 2028 and contains back-loaded, deferred salary payments. The club’s motivation for the move relates primarily to squad clarity rather than significant financial relief, given the minimal wage savings.
Barcelona’s Goalkeeping Order
The exit reflects Hansi Flick’s established hierarchy at the Camp Nou, where Joan García has cemented his status as first-choice goalkeeper since arriving from Espanyol last summer. Wojciech Szczęsny, who came out of retirement in 2024 to cover during Ter Stegen’s injury absence, signed a two-year extension in July 2025. With no pathway back into the starting eleven, the loan provides Ter Stegen with first-team football elsewhere.
Ajax Reunion
Ter Stegen brings 423 Barcelona appearances to Amsterdam, where he is expected to assume immediate starting duties. Ajax manager Michel played a decisive role in persuading the goalkeeper to make the switch, having previously convinced him to join Girona on loan in January 2026. That earlier spell was disrupted by a hamstring injury that limited him to just two appearances and contributed to his exclusion from Germany’s World Cup squad, with Manuel Neuer coming out of retirement to fill the void.
Once the medical examination and final documentation are completed, Ajax are expected to formally announce the transfer within days. The Eredivisie season is already underway, allowing Ter Stegen to integrate quickly with his new teammates. Barcelona, meanwhile, continue to reshape their squad with further departures possible before the transfer window closes.