Barça captain Ter Stegen bids farewell to fans and teammates, sealing loan move to Girona

Marc Andre ter Stegen has been announced as a Girona FC player, bringing an end to the goalkeeper's 12-year stint at FC Barcelona. 

The move brings a conclusion to the situation between the club and the player, which turned sour last summer, after the club signed Joan García. 

Ter Stegen was for a period stripped of the club captaincy by Barça hierarchy after he publicly announced on his own social media accounts that an injury would leave him sidelined for three months, crucially below the four-month threshold that would have allowed Barcelona to register other signings. At the time, Joan García, who replaced ter Stegen as the starting goalkeeper, was signed but could not play as he was not yet registered due to the club's financial problems. 

The situation quickly turned into a bitter all-out war between club and player, which has come to a close now with the German's move to north Catalonia. 

"Today is my last day this season with my teammates and the staff at FC Barcelona, and I truly have mixed feelings," the player said on his socials. "So many memories and emotions are running through me right now."

"I feel deeply grateful and proud. I love this club, this city and this region. They carry a feeling inside me that will never fade. Your support over all these years has been incredible, thank you from my heart."

"To the locker room: thank you for so many years shared, for the daily life together, the laughs, the battles and the respect. I carry you with me."

Ter Stegen leaves Barça with six La Liga titles to his name, one Champions League, and six Copas del Rey.