Barcelona to Cover €15m of Ter Stegen Wages to Push Through Ajax Loan

Barcelona are once again navigating the choppy waters of La Liga's salary limit rules, and the latest cost-cutting measure involves a significant financial outlay to move on a club captain. The Catalan side are preparing to pay around €15m (£12.94m) of Marc-Andre ter Stegen's wages to send him on loan to Ajax this summer, according to sources close to the deal.

The 34-year-old Germany international signed a new contract at Camp Nou until 2028 just two years ago, but the emergence of Joan Garcia as the club's first-choice goalkeeper has rendered him surplus to requirements. Despite wearing the armband, the latest news from Catalunya suggests the club have been eager to move ter Stegen on for some time, with his hefty salary becoming a burden on their tightly-restricted wage bill.

Ter Stegen spent the second half of last season on loan at Girona in the January window, but a serious injury cut short his playing time at Montilivi after just a few weeks. Now he is set for a fresh start in Amsterdam under manager Michel Sanchez, who knows him from their time together at Barcelona's B team. However, Ajax are unwilling to pick up the full tab for his wages, leaving Barca to foot a substantial portion of the bill.

The €15m subsidy covers roughly 10 to 15 per cent of ter Stegen's total salary for the year, a hefty price for a player who will not feature for the club. But the move is part of a broader strategy to free up space in the salary cap and allow the registration of new arrivals. One such target is Everton winger Anthony Gordon, with a fee of around €16m plus wages likely to cost Barca a total of €30m (£25.88m). Ter Stegen's departure could prove crucial in making that deal happen.

Barcelona have long been haunted by the bloated wage structure inherited from the previous decade, and they have often resorted to complex financial engineering to register players. This summer, they are hoping to finally bring their spending back within the league's strict limits, but that will require several more sales before the transfer window closes. The club remain active in the market and are likely to pursue further departures to ease the pressure on their books.

For now, the focus is on finalising ter Stegen's loan to Ajax, a move that addresses both the player's need for regular first-team football and Barcelona's need to trim their wage bill. Whether the €15m sacrifice will be enough to unlock the Gordon signing and other targets remains to be seen, but it is another clear sign of the financial contortions required at Camp Nou.