Daijiworld Media Network - Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Aug 4: AFC Ajax have reached an agreement with FC Barcelona to sign veteran German goalkeeper Marc ter Stegen on a season-long loan deal ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The 34-year-old joins the Amsterdam club after spending the second half of last season on loan at Girona, where he played under head coach Míchel Sánchez.

Born in Mönchengladbach on April 30, 1992, Ter Stegen began his professional career with Borussia Mönchengladbach, making 127 appearances over three-and-a-half seasons before joining Barcelona in 2014.

During his 12-year spell with the Catalan club, Ter Stegen won the UEFA Champions League in 2015 and lifted 21 major trophies. He made 423 official appearances for Barcelona, becoming the club's 11th-highest appearance-maker and its second-most capped foreign player behind Lionel Messi.

The Germany international has earned 44 senior caps for his country.

Ajax director Jordi Cruyff welcomed the signing, describing the experienced goalkeeper as a major addition to the squad.

"Marc has an outstanding track record, and his qualities are widely recognised. He is an immediate addition to our squad. Marc and I know each other well, and I'm looking forward to working with him again. We have been working on bringing him here for quite some time, so we're very pleased that he has signed his contract and can now get started," Cruyff said in a club statement.

Ter Stegen becomes Ajax's second German signing ahead of the new season after midfielder Julian Brandt joined the Dutch club last week on a three-year deal following the expiry of his Borussia Dortmund contract.

Ajax are looking to bounce back after finishing fifth in the Eredivisie last season. The club has already begun its European campaign in the Conference League qualifying rounds and will host Shelbourne in the first leg on Friday.