Barça Finally Solve the Ter Stegen Problem — by Paying Him to Play for Ajax

FC Barcelona have finally completed a deal that had been stuck for weeks. Marc-André ter Stegen will leave the squad’s training camp at St. George’s Park, travel to Amsterdam and sign a season-long loan agreement with Ajax. The tax issues have been resolved, the paperwork is ready, and the German can finally stop training with a team where there was no longer a place for him.

According to Mundo Deportivo and Cadena SER, Barcelona will initially continue paying around 90 percent of the goalkeeper’s salary. Ajax will cover the remaining 10 percent, with their share potentially increasing slightly depending on how many matches he plays. Barça have therefore solved the problem in classic Barça fashion: the player leaves, but the bill stays behind.

Ter Stegen is expected to say goodbye to his teammates and travel to Amsterdam today. At Ajax, he will reunite with Míchel, who briefly coached him during his loan spell at Girona. The German gets an opportunity to rebuild after two injury-hit seasons, Ajax get an experienced goalkeeper, and Barcelona free up some space. Mostly at the training camp, because the budget will barely notice.