FC Barcelona have secured one of the most underrated stars of the 2024/25 La Liga season—Joan Garcia, the shot-stopper who nearly single-handedly kept Espanyol afloat. But who exactly is the man between the sticks now donning the blaugrana? If you don’t know Joan Garcia yet, it’s time you did. Here are 10 essential insights into the goalkeeper set to light up the Camp Nou.
1. Born in a Football-Mad Town
Hailing from Sallent de Llobregat, just 70 kilometers from Barcelona, Joan Garcia comes from a town of just 7,000 people with a remarkable footballing pedigree. Sallent has produced Gabri Garcia (former Barça star), Aitor Ruibal (Real Betis), and Edgar González (Almería)—and now adds Joan Garcia to its proud legacy.
2. It Runs in the Family
Garcia didn’t start as a goalkeeper. Initially an outfield player, he eventually followed in the footsteps of his older brother, who also wore the gloves. Once he stepped into goal, everything changed—a career-defining shift from midfielder to last line of defense.
3. A Grassroots Climb to the Top
Garcia’s journey went through Sallent, Manresa, and Damm before he joined Espanyol at just 15. He made his first-team debut on December 12, 2021 in a Copa del Rey win over Solares, and a month later, he played his first La Liga match against Elche. A steady rise with no shortcuts.
4. The Wall That Saved Espanyol
In the 2024/25 season, Joan Garcia made 146 saves in La Liga—more than any other goalkeeper in Spain and second only to Brentford’s Mark Flekken (153) in all of Europe’s top five leagues. He was the league’s iron curtain.
5. Goal Prevention Expert
Advanced metrics show that he prevented 8.59 goals more than expected, conceding only 50 goals against an xG of 58.59. In simple terms: he didn’t just save shots, he redefined what it means to save your team.
6. Elite-Level Statistics
Garcia’s save percentage was an impressive 73.71%, trailing only Unai Simón (77.42%) and Jan Oblak (74.14%). He also saved two of six penalties faced—including clutch stops against Mallorca and Betis. Big moments, big hands.
7. A Rare Dual Club Keeper
Joan Garcia becomes just the ninth goalkeeper to wear the shirts of both Barcelona and Espanyol. The first was Romà Solà in the early 1900s. The most recent? Oier Olazábal, who left Barça in 2014 and played for Espanyol until 2022.
8. A Joan After Two Decades
When Garcia debuts, he’ll be the 33rd ‘Joan’ to play for FC Barcelona—and the first in 20 years. The last was Joan Verdú, also a former Espanyol player, who suited up for Barça in the 2004/05 season.
9. International Pedigree + Olympic Gold
Garcia hasn’t debuted for the senior national team yet, but he’s no stranger to international glory. He was part of Spain’s U23 squad that won Olympic gold in Paris 2024—a confidence boost and credential booster.
10. Familiar Faces Await
Joining Barça, Garcia will not be stepping into a locker room of strangers. He was part of the Olympic gold squad with current Barça teammates Pau Cubarsí, Fermín López, and Eric Garcia. Chemistry? Already in place.
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