Ajax is closing in on a move for Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, a transfer driven almost entirely by new head coach Michel Sánchez and his personal history with the 34-year-old German international.
Ter Stegen currently earns approximately €15 million per year at Barcelona. Ajax’s maximum offer sits significantly below that number, and that gap is the single biggest obstacle standing between ter Stegen and a move to Amsterdam.
The Sánchez connection and Barcelona’s financial calculus
The driving force behind this pursuit is Michel Sánchez, who managed ter Stegen during the keeper’s loan spell at Girona in the 2025/26 season. That working relationship clearly left an impression, because Sánchez has made signing ter Stegen a priority for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.
Ajax views the goalkeeper position as a crucial area to strengthen. From Barcelona’s perspective, the club is open to facilitating ter Stegen’s departure, including the possibility of a free transfer. Barcelona has been navigating salary cap constraints for years, and moving a €15 million annual salary off the books, even without a transfer fee, would provide meaningful relief.
