Barcelona complete Joan Garcia transfer

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Joan Garcia from Espanyol for €25m.

The goalkeeper was linked with numerous clubs after an impressive season with Espanyol.

Garcia made 146 saves in LaLiga last season, the second-most saves in Europe's top five leagues in the last campaign behind Mark Flekken (153).

The 24-year-old also had the eighth-best save percentage amongst goalkeepers who made at least 80 stops, with 73.7%.

Barca confirmed on Wednesday that they had paid the release clause in Garcia's Espanyol contract, and that he would officially put pen to paper on a six-year contract on Friday.

“I know this decision won’t be easy for everyone to understand,” said Garcia in an announcement video posted to his social media accounts.

“I’m not asking you to do so. This has been thought through, thinking not only of my career but also of what’s best for the club, my family, and me.”

Garcia went on to thank Espanyol staff and fans, as well as his coach, before talking about a "new chapter".

With Garcia's arrival, there are some question marks over the future of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has been linked with a move to Galatasaray.