FC Barcelona have completed the signing of highly rated Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia from city rivals Espanyol, the club confirmed on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old has joined the Catalan giants after Barcelona triggered his €25 million release clause, with additional costs raising the total fee to approximately €26.3 million. García, a standout performer in La Liga last season, has signed a six-year contract that will keep him at the club until June 2031.

But immediately after joining, Joan Garcia has found himself at the centre of a disturbing fallout following his high-profile switch from city rivals Espanyol. The 24-year-old goalkeeper has reportedly been targeted with threats and harassment after completing his €25 million transfer to the Blaugrana, prompting immediate changes to his personal life.
As per a report from Diario Sport, Garcia was inundated with threatening phone calls and messages after Espanyol fans leaked his personal contact details. The backlash was swift and aggressive, forcing the Catalan-born goalkeeper to change his phone number and severely limit his social media presence. He has also scaled back public outings and missed personal events, including a close friend's birthday celebration.
The transfer, seen by many Espanyol supporters as a betrayal, has sharply divided opinion. While some former teammates are understood to have privately backed García's decision, others within the Espanyol community have reacted with outrage. It is reported that his number was leaked to the fans, which resulted in hate messages amid the controversial move to the Blaugranas.
Despite the intensity of the situation, García is said to be focused on his integration at Barcelona and determined to let his performances do the talking. The 24-year-old has played 67 times for Espanyol and had interests from many other clubs in Europe. In the 2024-25 season, he played all 38 La Liga matches and claimed 8 clean sheets.