Barcelona veteran aims to leave injury woes behind and and rediscover form on loan

Story byBarcelona veteran aims to leave injury woes behind and and rediscover form on loanBarca UniversalThu, January 22, 2026 at 11:48 AM UTC·2 min readThe loan move of Marc-Andre ter Stegen to Girona is certainly a decisive step, both professionally and personally. After a long period on the sidelines and away from regular first-team football, the switch offers Ter Stegen something he has badly lacked in recent years – continuity, confidence, and a genuine chance to relaunch his career at the highest level. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFrom a sporting perspective, the motivation behind the move is clear that Ter Stegen is desperate to return to a consistent run of matches in order to strengthen his case ahead of the FIFA World Cup in 2026. At this stage of his career, minutes matter more than reputation, and Girona are prepared to offer him a platform to prove that he can still perform week in, week out. The decision did not come lightly. After several weeks analysing his options, Ter Stegen concluded that remaining in his current situation at Barcelona was no longer sustainable. Troubles with injuriesUnfortunately for the German, recent seasons have been defined more by misfortune than form. Ter Stegen will look to relaunch his career. (Photo by Alex Caparros/)AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLuck and physical limitations have repeatedly worked against him, preventing any real rhythm from developing. The numbers surrounding his injury record show just how damaging this period has been. Over the last two years alone, Ter Stegen has spent 439 days sidelined, missing 92 matches combined for Barcelona and the German national team. That lack of regular football has inevitably had consequences.