Marc-André ter Stegen discusses leaving Barcelona and a new chapter in Amsterdam

Experienced goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has given his first media interview since making an unexpected decision, confirming that leaving Barcelona for Ajax was the right step in his career. According to Goal.com, the German goalkeeper will play for the Dutch club on loan until June 2027, aiming to regain his form after injuries and inconsistent playing time in recent years. Goal.com reports this.

Although leaving Camp Nou after a decade with the Catalan club was emotionally difficult for the goalkeeper, he did not hide his satisfaction with the final outcome, despite negotiations taking slightly longer than expected. According to ter Stegen, his initial conversations with Ajax’s management played a decisive role in reaching the decision.

A New Team and a Convincing Project

“Good things take time. In the end, everything worked out as hoped, and I’m happy to be here,” said the 34-year-old footballer. He noted that conversations with Jordi Cruyff, as well as discussions with head coach Michel and defender Daley Blind, showed how serious the club’s project was.

After spending last season on loan at Girona, where he struggled with injuries, questions were raised about his ability to maintain the endurance required at the highest level. However, the experienced goalkeeper dismissed those concerns, stating that he had fully recovered physically and was ready for the high demands of the Dutch league.

Frenkie de Jong’s Support

After the transfer was announced, former Barcelona teammate Frenkie de Jong sent the goalkeeper a special message of congratulations. Ter Stegen admitted that this made the process of adapting to Amsterdam considerably easier.

“He’s my agent! Frenkie knows Amsterdam very well. He is always sincere, and his words gave me great peace of mind. It’s nice to know that I’m in safe hands,” the German goalkeeper added.