Barcelona defender Eric Garcia loaned to Girona

Barcelona defender Eric Garcia will join fellow Barca player Pablo Torre on loan at Girona for the 2023-24 season, with the official Barcelona channels announcing the deal late on deadline day.

The deal is a very straightforward loan agreement with no purchase option inserted into the contract, which means that Eric Garcia will return to Barca at the start of camp next summer.

Garcia started his football career at La Masia before heading to England to sign a four-year deal with Manchester City. The Martorell native returned to Barcelona two years ago and made 70 appearances over the two campaigns, but saw limited action last year.

Move to Girona is a good deal for everyone

Girona have started the new La Liga season well sitting third in the table having taken 7 points from a possible 9, scoring 6 times and conceding just twice.

If they hope to maintain that kind of performance throughout the campaign, they need reinforcements and Garcia brings quality experience with him to Girona.

With Barcelona signing Inigo Martinez this summer, it pushed Garcia further down the pecking order. With the arrival of Joao Cancelo, it also means that Xavi won’t have to play a first-choice centre-half like Ronald Araujo or Jules Kounde as a makeshift right-back, which ultimately relegates Garcia to the 5th choice CB.

Garcia is an extremely talented and cultured player with the ball at his feet, which is why he’s made the odd appearances as a holding midfielder, but in order for him to develop he needs more game time, something that Xavi couldn’t guarantee.

It was believed that Xavi was keen to keep Garcia at Barcelona this year, but the young Spanish defender was keen to move to continue his football education. Players want to play and when you’re 22-years-old, you really need to play to develop.

We wish Eric all the best in Girona this season and we’ll be following his progress closely.