Arsenal’s interest in Joan Garcia is longstanding, but new Premier League and European rivals have joined the race ahead of a pivotal summer.
Arsenal have re-emerged as leading contenders for the signature of Joan Garcia, the RCD Espanyol goalkeeper who has become one of the standout performers in La Liga this season.
According to a detailed report in Mundo Deportivo, the north London club were close to signing the 23-year-old last summer, only for Fran Garagarza, Espanyol’s sporting director, to refuse to part with his first-choice keeper unless his full release clause was met.
That release clause remains in place and is set at €25 million. It is subject to several conditional escalations, rising to €30 million in the final fortnight of any transfer window, increasing to €35 million if Garcia is called up to the senior Spain squad, and dropping to €15 million if Espanyol are relegated.
However, that final scenario is described by the report as “utopian,” with Espanyol safe in mid-table, 10 points above the drop zone.
Garcia has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Spanish top flight this season, with 127 stops to date. His consistency and shot-stopping have turned heads across the continent, and as Mundo Deportivo reports, “there is an open war for his services.”
Arsenal, Champions League semi-finalists and active in the market for a long-term goalkeeper, are described as “very close” to landing Garcia last summer and remain highly interested.
They are not alone.
Bayer Leverkusen are also in the mix, while Aston Villa, anticipating possible summer interest in Emiliano Martínez from Saudi Arabia, have now entered the race under Unai Emery.
The report adds that “all the big clubs in the Premier League, except Manchester City and Liverpool,” are monitoring Garcia’s situation.
Real Madrid are also named as a new contender, having discussed the player internally at a summit with Espanyol’s executives in June last year. At that time, Madrid were not looking to make an immediate move, but that stance may now be changing.
Meanwhile, FC Barcelona are described as admirers, though their interest is said to hinge on the resolution of their own goalkeeping situation, with Marc-André ter Stegen returning to fitness and Wojciech Szczesny potentially extending his stay.
With Garcia under contract until 2028, Espanyol are preparing for life without him and are aware that this summer represents a narrow window of opportunity to cash in.
As the report concludes, the chance to sign Joan Garcia for €25 million “only comes once. And it is this summer.”