Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has successfully undergone lower back surgery, his Barcelona club said in a statement on Tuesday. The club added that "he is unavailable for selection, and his recovery will determine when he can return.
Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has successfully undergone lower back surgery, his Barcelona club said in a statement on Tuesday.
The club added that "he is unavailable for selection, and his recovery will determine when he can return."
According to specialists, the goalkeeper is expected to be sidelined for at least thee months.
Ter Stegen had been training away from the team last week due to his back issues. This was originally believed to be a reaction to having been told that he would be only third choice behind newly signed Joan García and Wojciech Szczęsny.
Before the surgery, he was linked with a transfer and a number of clubs, ranging from Manchester City and Chelsea to AC Milan and Inter Milan as well as Monaco, were said to be interested in ter Stegen.
But the operation and rehabilitation all but rule out a summer transfer, and not playing beyond that could also endanger his status as Germany's number one in the run-up to next year's World Cup.
Ter Stegen, 33, is Germany's first choice goalkeeper since Manuel Neuer's international retirement in 2024.
The keeper already had back surgery in December 2023 and missed three months. He was also sidelined for many months last season with a severe knee injury.
Category: General Sports
