Wojciech Szczesny: Goalkeeper comes out of retirement to join Barcelona after Marc-Andre ter Stegen injury
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Published 02/10/2024 at 14:19 GMT+1
Barcelona have signed Wojciech Szczesny on a free transfer after first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a serious injury. The Poland international announced his retirement in August but reversed his decision when the Spanish giants came knocking. Former Arsenal, AS Roma and Juventus keeper Szczesny has signed a one-year deal at Camp Nou.
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Wojciech Szczesny has joined Barcelona as a free agent after making a sensational U-turn on his decision to retire from football.
The Poland international, 34, announced that he was hanging up his gloves after he left Juventus in the summer.
But a serious injury to first-choice Barca stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen forced him to reconsider and Szczesny’s move was officially announced on Wednesday.
A club statement read: "FC Barcelona and Wojciech Szczesny have reached an agreement for the goalkeeper to join the Club until 30 June 2025."
Szczesny will be used to playing on the biggest stage after representing Arsenal, Juve and AS Roma during his professional career.
The shock move came after Ter Stegen ruptured a tendon in his knee during a La Liga win over Villarreal.
Surgery was required to fix the problem and the Germany international will be out of action for months as he recovers.
Barcelona were permitted to sign a free agent due to the severity of Ter Stegen’s injury, and Szczesny will now compete with backup goalkeeper Inaki Pena for a starting spot.
The Pole described Barca as “one of the best clubs in the world” when speaking to Diario Sport about the prospect.
“I have a lot of respect for Barcelona’s history,” he said. “It would be disrespectful to not consider the option [of signing].”
The decision comes less than a month after Szczesny announced his retirement.
“I gave the game 18 years of my life, every day, without excuses," he wrote on Instagram in August.
“Today, although my body still feels ready for challenges, my heart is not there any more. I feel that right now it is time to give all of my attention to my family.”
Szczesny has 84 Poland caps to his name and won three Serie A titles and three Coppa Italia trophies with Juventus, as well as two FA Cups at Arsenal.
He was named Serie A goalkeeper of the year in 2019/20, and won the Premier League Golden Glove award in 2013/14.
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