Barcelona goalkeeper Ter Stegen joins Ajax on loan

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is aiming to help Ajax get “back to where it belongs” after his loan move to the Eredivisie giants from Barcelona was confirmed. 

Ter Stegen has joined Ajax for the duration of the 2026-27 campaign, though it has been reported that there is no option to make the move permanent next summer. 

It has been a difficult few years for Ter Stegen, with the goalkeeper limited to just 10 appearances in all competitions since the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign because of several injuries.

He ruptured his patellar tendon in September 2024 and missed the entirety of the season from then on, dropping down in Barca’s goalkeeper ranks, behind Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny. 

Ter Stegen joined Girona on loan in January but sustained a back injury on just his second appearance for the club.

But he has now reunited with Michel in Amsterdam, and Ter Stegen is hoping to play his part in improving Ajax’s fortunes after an underwhelming 2025-26 campaign. 

“We want to bring back this club, such a historic club, a club that has a lot of power not only in the Netherlands, but on the big stage as well, back to where it belongs,” he said. 

“I am very much looking forward to playing my part in that and getting it done.”

The signing you’ve all been waiting for. pic.twitter.com/B1AX7y0t3e

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) August 4, 2026

Ter Stegen arrives at Ajax with a wealth of experience, having made 423 appearances for Barcelona since joining them from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014.

During that time, he has kept 175 clean sheets while also conceding 418 goals, both of which are the second-most among LaLiga goalkeepers since his debut for the club. 

His struggles with injury saw him miss out on a place in Germany’s World Cup squad this summer.

Ajax finished fifth in the Eredivisie last season but boasted one of the best defences in the division.

Only Twente (40) conceded fewer goals than Ajax’s 42, while their 11 clean sheets were the joint-most in the top flight.

Ajax have already defeated FK Vojvodina 8-2 on aggregate in their first Conference League qualifier, with a two-legged tie against Shelbourne next up.

They open their league campaign against PEC Zwolle on Sunday.

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