Klopp chooses ter Stegen as Barcelona send him out on loan again
“Bild” reports that Jürgen Klopp personally told Marc-André ter Stegen he would become Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper. Official confirmation is still pending.
Marc-André ter Stegen is reportedly set to become Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper. According to “Bild”, Jürgen Klopp personally contacted the 34-year-old and told him that he would be the new national-team No. 1. Barcelona, meanwhile, are watching their contracted goalkeeper play for Ajax on a second consecutive loan.
KLOPP REPORTEDLY MADE A PERSONAL CALL
“Bild” reports that Klopp has already made one of his first major decisions as Germany head coach. He is said to have personally informed ter Stegen that he intends to build around him following Manuel Neuer’s international retirement.
Klopp will announce his first Germany squad on Thursday, September 17. If the report proves accurate, ter Stegen is expected to return for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. Germany begin their campaign against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24.
Oliver Baumann is reportedly set to miss out on the squad, while the competition for the backup positions remains open.
BARCELONA OPTED FOR ANOTHER LOAN
Barcelona agreed to send ter Stegen to Ajax until June 30, 2027. His contract with the Catalan club runs until 2028, but this is the second successive season he has been moved away from their first team.
His previous loan spell at Girona was heavily disrupted by injury and produced only two appearances. That has apparently not discouraged Klopp, who is ready to trust the goalkeeper’s experience and proven quality.
Barcelona spent another summer finding ter Stegen somewhere else to play. Klopp appears to have found a much bigger role for him: succeeding Neuer as Germany’s first choice. The contrast is difficult to miss.
OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION IS STILL PENDING
Germany’s new goalkeeping hierarchy has not yet been announced by Klopp or the German Football Association. At this stage, ter Stegen’s reported status remains a media claim based on information from “Bild”.
His Ajax loan is official, while the international decision should become clearer when Klopp names his first squad. Confirmation would mark an important change for a goalkeeper who spent much of his international career behind Neuer.
