Ter Stegen joins Ajax on loan as Rashford exits Barcelona
Synopsis
Barcelona's two most high-profile squad casualties are out in one move: ter Stegen, once Europe's best goalkeeper, heads to Ajax on loan after two seasons wrecked by injury, while Rashford's 14-goal loan spell ends without a permanent deal — squeezed out by Anthony Gordon's arrival. Two exits, one transfer window, and a Barcelona rebuild in full swing.
Key Takeaways
Marc-Andre ter Stegen , 34, has left Barcelona 's pre-season camp at St George's Park to join Ajax on loan, with Barcelona covering a large share of his wages.
Ter Stegen made just 8 appearances over two seasons, hampered by an Achilles injury , a back operation , and a hamstring tear .
He joined Barcelona from Borussia Mönchengladbach for €12 million in 2014 and won the treble in his debut season.
Marcus Rashford , 28, has confirmed his exit after scoring 14 goals in 49 appearances on loan from Manchester United .
Barcelona opted against signing Rashford permanently following the arrival of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United .
Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United under new coach Michael Carrick .
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has departed FC Barcelona's pre-season training camp at St George's Park, England, to complete a loan move to Dutch giants Ajax, according to reports in the Spanish sporting press. The 34-year-old goalkeeper skipped Thursday's squad session before finalising the switch, with Barcelona reportedly continuing to cover a significant portion of his wages.
Two injury-hit seasons prompt the exit
Ter Stegen's departure comes after two deeply disrupted seasons at the Camp Nou, during which he managed just eight appearances in total. A succession of serious setbacks — an Achilles tendon injury, a back operation, and a severe hamstring tear — kept him sidelined for long stretches. Two of those eight appearances came on loan at Girona in January, before the hamstring injury ended his campaign and effectively ruled him out of contention for Germany's World Cup squad.
A decorated Barcelona career before the injuries
Ter Stegen joined Barcelona from Borussia Mönchengladbach for €12 million in 2014, having made 108 Bundesliga appearances for the German club across four seasons. His impact in Spain was immediate: he won the treble in his debut season, featuring in both the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League. The Ajax loan will reunite him with coach Michel Sanchez, who managed him at Girona last season.
Rashford also confirmed out after loan spell
In a separate development, Marcus Rashford has confirmed his exit from Barcelona after the club opted not to make his loan from Manchester United permanent. The 28-year-old England forward scored 14 goals in 49 appearances during his season-long stint, having left United following a falling out with then-coach Ruben Amorim.
Barcelona's decision not to retain Rashford is linked to the arrival of fellow England forward Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United earlier this summer. In a farewell message posted on social media, Rashford wrote: 'I am extremely grateful to everyone at the club for making my time here a positive and unforgettable experience. I enjoyed every moment, and I will keep many special memories.' He added: 'I wish the club and all its fans every success in the coming season. Visca Barca!'
What happens next for both players
Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United, where he is set to play under new coach Michael Carrick. Ter Stegen, meanwhile, will look to rebuild his form and fitness at Ajax, with both club and player hoping the loan restores him to the level that once made him one of world football's premier goalkeepers.
Point of View
With Barcelona still absorbing his wages, is a pragmatic fix for a goalkeeper crisis that the club arguably allowed to fester too long without a clear succession plan. Rashford's exit is more straightforward: 14 goals in 49 games was respectable, but Gordon's arrival made the economics simple. What is worth watching is whether Carrick's United can reintegrate Rashford, whose last chapter at Old Trafford ended in acrimony. The answers to both storylines will matter well beyond this transfer window.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Marc-Andre ter Stegen leaving Barcelona for Ajax?
Ter Stegen is joining Ajax on loan after two injury-disrupted seasons at Barcelona in which he made just 8 appearances. A succession of serious injuries — including an Achilles tear, back surgery, and a hamstring injury — left him unable to hold down a first-team place, prompting the temporary move to rebuild his fitness and form.
What are the terms of ter Stegen's Ajax loan?
Ter Stegen will join Ajax on loan, with Barcelona reportedly continuing to pay a significant portion of his wages, according to the Spanish sporting press. Full financial terms have not been officially disclosed.
Why did Barcelona not sign Marcus Rashford permanently?
Barcelona chose not to make Rashford's loan from Manchester United permanent following the arrival of fellow England forward Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United. The club opted for Gordon over Rashford despite the latter scoring 14 goals in 49 appearances during his loan spell.
Where will Marcus Rashford go after leaving Barcelona?
Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United, where he is set to play under new head coach Michael Carrick. His loan at Barcelona ended after one season without a permanent deal being agreed.
Who is Michel Sanchez and why does the Ajax move reunite him with ter Stegen?
Michel Sanchez is the current Ajax head coach who previously managed Girona, where ter Stegen spent a loan spell in January before his hamstring injury. The pair's existing working relationship is cited as a factor in the Ajax move.
