Joan Garcia is now an FC Barcelona player. The blaugranes have acquired one of the most impressive performers from the 2024/25 season after the goalkeeper played a key role in keeping Espanyol up. Despite his excellent campaign, there will be many who do not know too much about Barça's new arrival so we have a list of 10 things to help you along. 

1 - Sallent, footballing town 

Sallent de Llobregat is around 70kms from Barcelona and is the hometown of one Joan Garcia. With a population of around 7,000, the town has produced more than its fair share of professional footballers. Also from Sallent are Gabri Garcia, a former Barça player who made 180 appearances for the blaugranes, current Betis defender Aitor Ruibal and Almería defender Edgar González. 

2 - Goalkeeper like his brother 

In his home town Joan Garcia began his footballing career as on outfield player. However, following in the footsteps of his older brother he soon donned the goalkeeping gloves and the rest, as they say, is history. 

3 - Sallent-Manresa-Damm-Espanyol

After spells with Sallent and Manresa, he signed for Damm before moving to Espanyol at the age of 15. On 12 December 2021 he made his debut for the first team in the Copa del Rey in a 3-2 away win at Solares. The following January he made his debut in La Liga in a game against Elche. 

4 - Brilliant season 

After helping Espanyol to promotion from the Second Division in 2023/24, the following season in the First Division Joan Garcia made more saves than any other keeper, 146 in total. In Europe's top five leagues, only Brentford's Mark Flekken made more with 153. 

5 - Best goalkeeper 

He was also the keeper who prevented most goals as advanced statistics predicted he conceded 58.59 goals when in fact he conceded just 50, saving 8.59 goals. 

6 - Stats

Furthermore, he had the third best save percentage on 73.71% with only Athletic Club's Unai Simón on 77.42% and Zamore trophy winner Jan Oblak of Atlético on 74.14% ahead of him. Garcia also saved two of the six penalties he faced during the season, one against Mallorca and one against Betis. 

7 - Ninth keeper Barça and Espanyol

Garcia is the ninth keeper to play for Barça and Espanyol with Romà Solà the first at the very start of the 20th century. The most recent has been Oier Olazábal who left Barça in 2014 and featured for Espanyol between 2020 and 2022. 

8 - First Joan in the last 20 years 

When he makes his debut he will be the 33rd 'Joan' to play for Barça and the first since another former Espanyol player, Joan Verdú, who played in the 2004/05 season. 

9 - Spanish youth international and Olympic gold 

Despite not yet having made his debut for the full national side, Joan Garçia has played for Spain at youth level and was part of the gold medal winning U23 squad at the Paris Olympics in 2024. 

10 - Familiar faces in the dressing room

Garcia was part of the successful Olympic Spain squad alongside his new club team mates Pau Cubarsí, Fermín López and Eric Garcia. The Barça dressing room will have some familiar faces at least for the new goalkeeper. 

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