IT’S ALL CHANGE at Barcelona.
On Monday, Luis Enrique was confirmed as the club’s new manager, replacing Tata Martino on a two-year deal.
But the Catalan’s have also announced the signing of German international goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen from Borussia Monchengladbach – the 22 year-old has signed a five-year deal.
The fee involved is undisclosed but believed to be in double-figures.
Having long been linked with a move to the Nou Camp, Ter Stegen was only allowed to finalise the deal when Barcelona’s initial 14-month ban for breaching FIFA rules regarding the signing of underage players was appealed. The transfer embargo has been suspended while the appeal process takes place.
Ter Stegen, who isn’t part of Germany’s World Cup squad, made his debut for Gladbach at eighteen and has rapidly developed his game, becoming a crucial member of the team over the last number of seasons. In 2012, he was named the best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga and in May of that year, he was handed his senior international debut.
Having spent eighteen years of his life at Gladbach, leaving was always going to be tough but earlier this month, he waved an incredibly emotional goodbye to the club’s supporters.
Gladbach have announced Swiss international Yann Sommer as Ter Stegen’s replacement.
