For a long-term solution, the best goalkeepers for Barça would be Álvaro Valles and Diogo Costa, with Costa being the most highly sought-after (and expensive) option. He could be a key target if the club opts for a long-term signing in 2025.

However, for an immediate replacement for Marc-André ter Stegen, Wojciech Szczęsny stands out as the optimal choice. Why?

Szczęsny brings a wealth of experience despite still being relatively young for a goalkeeper. The Polish shot-stopper, who recently retired, became Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper at just 21 and held the role from 2009 to 2015, when he moved to Roma on loan after Petr Čech’s arrival limited his opportunities.

During his time at Roma, Szczęsny proved his worth. In his second season, he led Serie A with 14 clean sheets, helping Roma achieve a club-record 87 points and secure a second-place finish.

In total, the now Barcelona-bound goalkeeper made 72 Serie A appearances across two seasons before his move to Turin, where he continued to shine.

At Juventus, Szczęsny made 200 appearances, winning three consecutive Scudetti, three Coppa Italia titles, and two Supercoppa Italiana. He capped his time in Italy by winning the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Both Szczęsny and Juventus agreed to part ways on August 14, 2024. Thirteen days later, Szczęsny announced his retirement at the age of 34. Yet, less than a month after hanging up his gloves, he’s now at Barcelona, set to replace the injured Ter Stegen, who suffered a knee injury against Villarreal.

The experienced Polish goalkeeper brings plenty of qualities that make him an ideal fit for Barça. First, he’s only two years older than Ter Stegen, which means he’s still within his prime, despite his recent retirement.

Another key factor is his sharpness. Szczęsny played 35 games for Juventus during the 2023/24 season before announcing his retirement, so his return is more like coming back from a brief break rather than a long hiatus.

In contrast, Keylor Navas, another option, has been without a club since leaving PSG in May 2024 and hasn’t played any competitive football since. At 37, it may take longer for him to regain match fitness, making Szczęsny a more reliable choice for immediate impact.

Lastly, Szczęsny's shot-stopping ability makes him the perfect addition to Hansi Flick’s Barça. Standing at 1.96 meters (6 ft 5 in), Szczęsny combines excellent reflexes with strong positional awareness.

Shot-stopping is arguably his greatest strength, as demonstrated by his penalty save against Lionel Messi in the 2022 World Cup and his Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2019-2020.

In the 2023/24 season, Szczęsny saved 74.1% of the shots he faced, a testament to his ability to time his dives perfectly and keep the ball out of the net.

He excels in 1v1 situations, using his reach to close down attackers and prevent goals. While his ball distribution isn’t as good as Ter Stegen’s, particularly when finding players further up the pitch, he more than makes up for it in other areas.

His height also gives him an advantage in dealing with crosses, with a 4.7% success rate in stopping aerial deliveries.

All in all, Szczęsny is a solid temporary solution until the January transfer window opens. How he performs will determine whether he remains a key figure for the rest of the season.

Can Wojciech Szczęsny play for Barça in the Champions League?

Yes! If Barcelona can register him, Szczęsny will be eligible to play in the UEFA Champions League. The club currently only has one first-team goalkeeper registered with Ter Stegen out. 

According to UEFA regulations, if a club cannot count on the services of at least two goalkeepers registered on List A due to long-term injury or illness, they can temporarily replace them at any time during the season. 

With only Ter Stegen and Iñaki Peña registered on List A, and Astralaga and Kochen on List B, Szczęsny can be registered on or before January to participate in the Champions League.