Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be sidelined for approximately three months after opting to undergo back surgery, the Germany international confirmed on Thursday.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Ter Stegen described the decision as “personally difficult,” but necessary to fully recover from a persistent back issue. “Physically and athletically, I feel in very good shape, although unfortunately I am not free from pain,” he said.
The 33-year-old revealed that after consulting with Barcelona’s medical team and external experts, surgery was deemed the safest and quickest path to full recovery. “After my last operation, I returned to the pitch in about 66 days, but this time, doctors believe three months is needed to avoid risks,” he added.
Barcelona, who signed Espanyol’s Joan Garcia this summer, are expected to make the 23-year-old their new first-choice goalkeeper, with Polish veteran Wojciech Szczesny serving as back-up.
Reports in Spain suggest the Catalan club may be looking to offload Ter Stegen, who joined from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014, in a bid to ease financial pressure and register recent signings like Garcia and Marcus Rashford.
Last season, Barcelona used a La Liga registration loophole following a long-term injury to defender Andreas Christensen, allowing them to temporarily register Dani Olmo after his move from RB Leipzig.
Despite the setback, Ter Stegen remained upbeat: “Emotionally, it hurts not being able to support the team during this time. But the rehabilitation is manageable, and the road back is clear. Don’t worry — I’ll be back.”
