Marc-André ter Stegen, the veteran German goalkeeper, finds himself at the center of transfer discussions, with reports linking him to a potential move to Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam. The Eredivisie club, which experienced an underperforming 2025/26 season, is reportedly keen to secure the services of the 34-year-old as they look to rebuild.
The interest from AjaxTeam·Ajax comes as ter Stegen's future at FC Barcelona appears increasingly uncertain. The 2025/26 campaign proved to be a pivotal one for the goalkeeper, who began the season as BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona's long-standing number one. However, a prolonged absence following back surgery saw him lose his starting position to Joan GarciaPlayer·Joan Garcia and Wojciech SzczesnyPlayer·Wojciech Szczesny. Reports indicated that he was informed he would no longer be the primary choice for the Catalan club.
Seeking crucial playing time to maintain his aspirations for Germany's 2026 World CupCompetition·World Cup squad, ter Stegen made a loan move to fellow Catalan side GironaTeam·Girona in January 2026 for the remainder of the season. This transfer was complicated by his substantial salary at BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona, with ter Stegen reportedly agreeing to forgo a significant portion of his wages to facilitate the move, as GironaTeam·Girona could only contribute approximately €1 million towards his salary. Earlier in the season, BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona had reportedly been willing to allow him to leave on a free transfer if he agreed to waive the estimated €42 million gross salary still owed to him until his contract's expiration in June 2028.
Despite his efforts to secure regular minutes, a recurring injury after just two appearances for GironaTeam·Girona prematurely ended his season. This setback also extinguished his hopes of participating in the 2026 World CupCompetition·World Cup, with Manuel NeuerPlayer·Manuel Neuer and Oliver BaumannPlayer·Oliver Baumann ultimately selected for the German squad. GironaTeam·Girona was subsequently relegated from La LigaCompetition·La Liga at the close of the 2025/26 season.
AjaxTeam·Ajax's reported interest aligns with their current transitional phase. The club's new technical director, Jordi Cruyff, and new manager, Michel — who previously coached ter Stegen at GironaTeam·Girona — are reportedly driving the pursuit. This connection could prove influential in any potential transfer.
Throughout the 2025/26 season, several other prominent European clubs were linked with ter Stegen. Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League sides Aston VillaTeam·Aston Villa, ChelseaTeam·Chelsea, and Manchester UnitedTeam·Manchester United all reportedly monitored his situation in late 2025. Manchester UnitedTeam·Manchester United, specifically, was noted in July 2025 as a club not participating in European football for the 2025/26 season, a factor ter Stegen had to consider. Turkish clubs Besiktas and GalatasarayTeam·Galatasaray also showed interest, with Besiktas reportedly making a loan offer with an €8 million option to buy.
While BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona concluded the 2025/26 La LigaCompetition·La Liga season as domestic champions, finishing with 94 points ahead of Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid, the club continues to face financial challenges. Ter Stegen's contract with BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona extends until June 2028, but a permanent departure during the summer 2026 transfer window is considered a strong possibility given his current standing and the club's financial landscape.
Marc-André ter Stegen in action during a La Liga match between Girona FC and FC Barcelona. SOPA Images/IMAGO
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