- Barcelona confirm arrival of Wojciech Szczesny on free transfer
- Polish goalkeeper has come out of retirement after Marc-Andre ter Stegen's season-ending injury
- Szczesny signs on a deal until end of the season
Barcelona have confirmed the signing of recently retired goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny on a deal until the end of the season.
The Polish shot-stopper called time on his playing career in the summer after a successful stint with Juventus but was quickly identified as a target for Barca after Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a season-ending injury.
Szczesny was spotted in attendance at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys for the crushing 5-0 Champions League victory over Young Boys on Tuesday and the club have now confirmed his arrival.
Szczesny made 35 Serie A appearances during his final season at Juve, having previously helped the Italian giants to three league titles and three Coppa Italia trophies during his stay in Turin.
Szczęsny is culer! 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/B1S3RVBd2L
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 2, 2024
He will become the second Pole to play for Barca's men's team after compatriot Robert Lewandowski. The pair played together on 71 occasions for their national side.
Inaki Pena stepped in during the immediate aftermath of Ter Stegen's injury, which the Germany goalie suffered during the 5-1 win over Villarreal in September, but Barca moved quickly to identify an alternative option to the 25-year-old academy graduate between the sticks.
Szczesny made his name at Arsenal, making 181 appearances in all competitions and winning two FA Cups before falling out of favour and moving to Roma for two seasons on loan.
He impressed enough there to earn a move to Juve, where he would replace one of the all-time greats in Gianluigi Buffon as their starting goalkeeper.
The 34-year-old stayed in Turin until this summer, when it was revealed the two parties had mutually terminated his contract so he could retire. However, Szczesny has now come out of his short-lived playing exile and will hope to make his debut in Barca's next fixture, which is a La Liga trip to Alaves on Sunday.
