Barcelona have completed the signing of former Arsenal and Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny on a short-term contract.
Szczesny, 34, joins on a free transfer through to the end of the season as cover for No 1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who ruptured a patellar tendon in his right knee against Villarreal last month.
Inaki Pena, 25, has deputised for Barca in Ter Stegen’s absence but the Catalan club wanted an experienced option to provide competition for the La Masia graduate.
Szczęsny is culer! 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/B1S3RVBd2L
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 2, 2024
Pena started in the 1-0 win over Getafe and 4-2 loss at Osasuna in La Liga, alongside Tuesday’s 5-0 Champions League win over Young Boys.
Szczesny makes his return to professional football after announcing his retirement from playing in August.
The Poland international was released by Juventus at the end of last season having won eight major trophies in 252 appearances for the Turin club.
“I gave the game 18 years of my life, every day, without excuses,” Szczesny said in a social media post confirming his retirement earlier this year.
“Today, though my body still feels ready for challenges, my heart is not there anymore. I feel that right now it is time to give all of my attention to my family.”
Szczesny joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2006 and went on to play 181 games for the north London club, winning two FA Cups. He also represented Roma during his career.
At international level, the Warsaw-born ‘keeper won 84 caps for Poland, playing at two World Cups and four European Championships including the most recent edition of the competition in Germany earlier this year.
(Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
