Goalkeeper Joan Garcia has announced his exit from Espanyol in an emotional Instagram video before his transfer to local rivals Barcelona was officially confirmed.
Barcelona have been in talks with Espanyol over the transfer of Garcia and both parties have finally reached an agreement.
The 24-year-old’s €24m release clause has been paid and the current La Liga champions announced his arrival on Wednesday, but he first took the time to explain why he is moving to Espanyol’s bitter rivals.
Joan Garcia of RCD Espanyol gestures during the LaLiga match between Sevilla FC and Espanyol at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on January 25, 2025 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
In a video posted on Instagram, Garcia said: “The time has come to part ways. Today I have to say goodbye to the club that has been my home since I was 15. During all this time, I have tried to grow every day as a footballer and as a person, always with humility, effort, and the pride of defending the RCD Espanyol goal.
“I have given everything I had inside to help the team, to represent this badge with the utmost dedication, and to live up to what it means to wear this shirt. I know this decision won’t be easy for everyone to understand. I’m not asking you to do so. But I do want you to know that it has been a decision that has been thought through, thinking not only of my career but also of what’s best for the club, my family, and me.”
Garcia signed a six-year deal at Camp Nou and will compete against Wojciech Szczęsny and Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the first choice spot.
