Barcelona, Aug 4 (EFE).- German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has joined Ajax on a season-long loan from FC Barcelona, the Spanish club announced Tuesday, ending weeks of negotiations delayed by tax-related issues. The 34-year-old Germany international, who remains under contract with Barcelona until 2028, had been in talks with the Dutch club for several weeks. The move was delayed while the parties resolved the tax arrangements associated with the transfer. Ter Stegen said farewell to his teammates and Hansi Flick’s coaching staff last Friday before leaving Barcelona’s pre-season training camp in England to travel to Amsterdam. The move reunites the goalkeeper with Spanish coach Míchel Sánchez, who also brought him to Girona on loan during the winter transfer window. However, Ter Stegen made only two appearances for Girona before suffering an injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the season and also cost him a place at the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Girona were relegated from LaLiga EA Sports to the second division at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. Recurring injuries have hampered Ter Stegen in recent seasons despite a distinguished Barcelona career in which he made 423 appearances and won 21 trophies. He leaves as the club’s second most-capped goalkeeper, behind only Víctor Valdés, and one of Barça’s most successful foreign players. The German will also reunite with Ajax sporting director Jordi Cruyff, with whom he previously worked at Barcelona. «Marc has had an exceptional career and his qualities are recognised around the world. He joins our squad immediately. We know each other well and I look forward to working with him again. We have been working on bringing him here for some time, so we are delighted that he has signed and can start playing,» Cruyff told Ajax’s official media. Efe xsf-sk