Joan Garcia

Joan Garcia Pons (; born 4 May 2001) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Barcelona and the Spain national team.

An Espanyol youth graduate, Garcia broke into the first team in 2021 and eventually established himself as a first-choice in 2024. In June 2025, he moved to Barcelona after the club activated his release clause. He immediately broke into the starting line-up, and helped his club win the La Liga title.

Garcia is a Spain international and former youth international. He made his debut for the senior national team in 2026, and was a part of the squad that won the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Espanyol

Born in Sallent, Barcelona, Catalonia, Garcia began his career with hometown side CE Sallent at the age of four; initially an outfield player, he was influenced by his older brother to move to goal. He subsequently represented Manresa and Damm before joining the youth sides of Espanyol in 2016, aged 15.

Beginnings and debut Garcia made his senior debut with the reserves on 28 September 2019, starting in a 1–1 Segunda División B away draw against Valencia Mestalla.

Garcia made his first-team debut on 1 December 2021, starting in a 3–2 away win over Solares-Medio Cudeyo in the season's Copa del Rey. Garcia was handed the number one shirt in the 2022–23 campaign, moving from his previous number 34. Over the season, he served as a back-up in La Liga, featuring in three Copa del Rey matches. He ended the season with 4 appearances and 1 clean sheet. In March 2024, he became the first-choice goalkeeper for the Pericos in the Second Division. After winning the club's Player of the Month award in three consecutive months from March to May 2024, Garcia was voted by Espanyol supporters as the club's Male Player of the Season. On 21 September, Garcia made ten saves but it was not enough, as his side were defeated 4–1 by Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. In an away game against Real Betis on 29 September, he produced ten saves again, including a penalty stop, but could not prevent a third consecutive loss for the Pericos.

On 3 November, Garcia played in his first Barcelona derby and made six saves, as Espanyol were beaten 3–1 by their local rivals Barcelona at the Barcelona Olympic Stadium. In another Catalan derby on 23 November, he could not stop Girona from scoring four goals in the first 30 minutes, and the Pericos ultimately lost 4–1 at the Estadi Montilivi. On 14 December, Garcia recorded his first La Liga clean sheet at home without making a save in a goalless draw against Osasuna.

On 1 February 2025, Garcia produced a man of the match display with seven saves, helping Espanyol beat league leaders Real Madrid 1–0 at the RCDE Stadium, and recording his third clean sheet of the campaign. In a 1–0 victory at Alavés on 22 February, Garcia produced four saves, helping the Pericos end their long wait for a first La Liga away win of the season.

On 10 March, Garcia made a crucial stop to keep out Yangel Herrera's first-time volley in a home match against Girona that earned him the second La Liga Save of the Month award for March. By achieving the honour, he became the first player to have won the award in consecutive months. In an away game against Mallorca on 15 March, Garcia saved two penalty kicks from Vedat Muriqi and Abdón Prats, but the latter's was retaken after VAR deemed that an Espanyol player had entered the box prematurely, and Mallorca ultimately won 2–1 by beating Garcia from the penalty spot on the third attempt. On 4 April, Garcia kept his fifth clean sheet of the season with five saves in a 4–0 away triumph over Rayo Vallecano.

Barcelona On 18 June 2025, Espanyol announced the player's departure after activating his €25 million plus taxes release clause. Subsequently, Barcelona announced his signing on a six-year contract until 2031.

On 16 August, Garcia made his Barça debut in which he started in a 3–0 win against Mallorca. On 31 August, in just his third start for Barcelona, a 1–1 draw against Rayo Vallecano, Garcia made 5 crucial saves, including a notable cutback save from Rayo player Andrei Rațiu. Though Rayo eventually equalized through Fran Pérez, Garcia was praised by Barcelona fans for his saves and earned his first MVP of the Match for Barcelona. On 18 September, Garcia made his UEFA Champions League debut for Barcelona in a 2–1 win over Newcastle United, starting in goal, and playing the full 90 minutes. Eight days later on 26 September, after featuring for the entire 90 minutes in Barcelona's 3–1 win over Real Oviedo in La Liga, Garcia was diagonsed with a meniscus tear in his left knee. He subsequently underwent surgery, and was given a recovery time of four to six weeks. Garcia returned from injury on 22 November, coinciding with Barcelona's return to the Camp Nou, starting in the club’s 4–0 La Liga win over Athletic Club following his recovery from knee surgery.

On 3 January 2026, Garcia faced his former club, Espanyol. Prior to the match, reports suggested that the fixture could present a hostile atmosphere for Garcia, leading the club to implement additional security measures to ensure his safety. The game ended in an 2–0 victory for Barcelona with Garcia playing a crucial part by making 6 saves, which led to him winning his second La Liga MVP of the Match award for Barcelona while also getting praised by manager Hansi Flick. During the season, Garcia became Barcelona's first-choice goalkeeper, after regular starter Marc-André ter Stegen went to Girona on loan, helping the club win La Liga after a keeping a clean sheet in a won 2–0 over rivals Real Madrid in El Clásico, securing his club's 29th La Liga title.

International career

Garcia is a youth international for Spain, having represented the Spain U17s, U18, U19s, and U21s. In July 2024, he was selected in the Spain under-23 squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics. He and Spain would go on to win the Olympic gold medal at the men's football event in the Olympics.

On 31 March 2026, Garcia came off the bench for David Raya in the 62nd minute for Spain in an international friendly against Egypt, in a goalless draw at the RCDE Stadium. He was included in Luis de la Fuente's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 25 May, and made his first start for the nation on 4 June, in a friendly against Iraq.

Career statistics Club

International

Honours Barcelona La Liga: 2025–26 Supercopa de España: 2026

Spain U23 Summer Olympics gold medal: 2024

Individual Espanyol Male Player of the Season: 2023–24 La Liga Team of the Season: 2024–25, 2025–26 La Liga Zamora Trophy: 2025–26 La Liga Save of the Season: 2025–26