2024/25 La Liga champions Barcelona are inching closer to their first big signing of the summer with the transfer of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia expected to be announced soon.
The 24 year old keeper has been at Espanyol since his academy days in 2016 and has progressed through the B team to the first eleven, and Garcia has now made 55 appearances for Los Periquitos, as well as representing Catalonia at senior level, and Spain at U21 level. He’s ready to make the move across the city to join the Blaugrana and reports at the club suggest he is about to sign a six year contract with Hansi Flick’s men.
As Barcelona swept to the La Liga title in some style, as well as winning both domestic cups, beating Real Madrid four times along the way, the La Liga 2025 news headlines were dominated by their attacking unit, spearheaded by Robert Lewandowski. Brazil winger Raphinha was sensational while Ferran Torres, Fermin Lopez and the teen sensation Lamine Yamal all had brilliant campaigns.
The return of midfielder Pedri alongside summer recruit Dani Olmo made the creative unit even better, while the Barca defence, marshalled by Inigo Martinez, stood firm when challenged. The last line of defence for much of the campaign was Polish stopper Wojciech Szczesny, after club captain Marc-Andre Ter Stegen suffered a horrific early season injury.
But at 33 and 35 Ter Stegen and Szczesny are in the autumn of their careers and the injury to the Germany star might be weighing on the manager’s mind; and Ter Stegen looks like he could be on the way out. So the future seems to call for Garcia as the Blaugrana’s number one. Premier League club Arsenal thought they were at the front of the queue, but with David Raya set to stay at the Emirates the Gunners are a less appealing prospect for Garcia, who will expect to be the main man, after a superb campaign with Espanyol.
If, as expected, the deal goes through when the transfer window re-opens then the future of Ter Stegen will be called into question and he may well be on his way, along with goalkeeping coach Jose Ramon de la Fuente, who has had a close relationship with the current Number One since his arrival in 2014.
In other Catalonian news the Blaugrana are keeping tabs on Colombian winger Luis Diaz. The Liverpool man has been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer, with Barcelona said to be the main players, but the club will have to do some financial juggling to meet the expected fee of £67m.
Huijsen is unveiled at the Santiago Bernabeu
Wounded Real Madrid have made their first big move in the market with the signing of 20 year old centre back Dean Huijsen from Premier League club Bournemouth. The £50m move finalised before the temporary break in transfer activity and the Spain international has signed a five year deal with new manager Xabi Alonso. He was born in the Netherlands and Huijsen represented the Oranje at youth level, but he has chosen to represent Spain and played for La Roja in the Nations League this year, already picking up four senior caps.
He is the first signing of the Alonso era and Huijsen could turn out to be a stellar signing. At 6ft 5in he is a real unit, equally comfortable with both feet and with an eye for goal, scoring three times for the Cherries in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign. The early SBOTOP La Liga 2025 betting odds will pitch Los Blancos and Barcelona as the two front runners again, and much will depend on their transfer activity over the next two months. This is a good start for Real Madrid and their new player couldn’t be happier with the move, saying: “I’ve wanted to be here from day one. From the moment Real Madrid called, I didn’t look at any other clubs.”
The other news emerging from the Santiago Bernabeu this week is slightly less positive as it seems Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior picked up a knock during the Selecao’s 1-0 win over Paraguay on Wednesday. His goal fired Brazil to the 2026 World Cup finals but he hobbled off the pitch late in the game and looking uncomfortable, clutching his leg.
Vinicius is part of a lethal front three at Madrid, alongside Kylian Mbappe and his countryman Rodrygo and, while Alonso certainly won’t take any risks with his star, he would really be hoping that Vinicius will be fit to join the club at the potentially lucrative Club World Cup which starts on Sunday. Along with the likes of Champions League champions Paris Saint-Germain, Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Los Blancos will be sniffing the chunky wedge of prize money at this summer jaunt…every little helps; but Alonso will check on the fitness of Vinicius before he throws him in.
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