Ajax eye Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen despite wage hurdle

Ajax have emerged as a leading candidate to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen this summer. The Dutch club sees the German international as a fit for their football philosophy, but his current salary exceeds Ajax’s wage structure. Ter Stegen is expected to return to Barcelona after a loan spell at Girona, where injuries limited his appearances. The loan was intended to secure regular game time for the World Cup, but the limited minutes left his future at Camp Nou uncertain. Barcelona view Joan Garcia as their long‑term solution between the posts, while Wojciech Szczesny continues to hold an important role. Consequently, ter Stegen no longer appears central to the squad’s plans, and his departure would relieve a significant portion of the wage bill. Former Girona manager Michel is reported to be a key figure encouraging the move to Amsterdam. Michel previously persuaded ter Stegen to join Girona and now backs his potential arrival at Ajax. The primary obstacle remains the financial commitment required; Ajax would need Barcelona to subsidise part of the wages or ter Stegen to lower his demands. Photo by Alex Caparros.