Joan Garcia 'agrees' transfer as Arsenal learn result of Barcelona's late U-turn

Joan Garcia had been linked with multiple Premier League clubs including Arsenal but Barcelona look to have won the race for the highly-rated Spanish goalkeeper

Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Arsenal target Joan Garcia, who will join the La Liga champions immediately rather than go out on loan. Garcia, 24, was the subject of interest from Arsenal but the goalkeeper will now join Barca on a five-year contract from local rivals Espanyol.

Hansi Flick's title winners have agreed to pay his £21million release clause and hope that the deal will be completed by next week. After helping Espanyol avoid relegation from La Liga this season thanks to a string of impressive performances, Garcia was tipped for a move to the Premier League.

Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle were all linked as well as German side Bayer Leverkusen. But Barcelona have quickly emerged as the frontrunners and it was initially suggested that he'd be loaned out next season.

Valencia was a rumoured destination, as they've waved goodbye to Liverpool-bound Giorgi Mamardashvili. According to Sport, however, Garcia will go straight into Barcelona's squad and fight for the gloves.

That's despite club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen returning to fitness after seven-month layoff and Barca offering Wojciech Szczesny a new one-year contract. Former Arsenal shot-stopper Szczesny's future is yet to be confirmed, although multiple reports say that the 35-year-old will extend his stay in Catalunya after coming out of retirement in September.

Garcia therefore has a tough task to become Flick's first choice but he's determined not to sit on the bench. "All players want to play," he told Catalunya Radio. "I've been playing for a year and a half, and I want to continue doing so. I'm young and that's very important."

In the same interview, the Olympic gold medalist revealed that his phone had been 'saturated' with messages about his future. Garcia also doesn't mind leaving Espanyol for their rivals.

"It wouldn't be a problem to face Espanyol," he said to the same outlet last week. "It would also be nice to play against them. These are things that can happen, but I try to look on the positive side of things, and if it happens, I would be excited."

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Garcia's arrival also throws the future of Ter Stegen up in the air. The Germany international has no intention of leaving, despite reports that Flick would be open to selling him.

"No one has told me about this, so I don't know the situation," Ter Stegen said earlier this week. "I'm not worried. I know that I will be at Barcelona next year.

"If I remember correctly, and if no news has happened in the last few hours, we only have two goalkeepers for next season, Inaki [Pena] and me."