OFFICIAL: MARC-ANDRÉ TER STEGEN JOINS AJAX ON LOAN FROM BARCELONA

 

Photo by Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Dutch giants Ajax confirmed on Tuesday the signing of goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen on a season-long loan from Barcelona.

Our new number 1.

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) August 4, 2026

Ter Stegen was a request from new Ajax manager Míchel who worked briefly with the German at Girona at the end of last season before Ter Stegen suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the World Cup.

The 34-year-old says he wants to help “bring Ajax back to where it belongs”, and will be hoping to finally play a full season of football again after dealing with multiple major injuries in the last two years.

According to the latest reporting, Barça will cover 90% of Ter Stegen’s salary during his time at Ajax but will be hoping that Ter Stegen’s performances over a full season can convince Ajax or another club to sign him on a permanent deal next summer.

Good luck at Ajax, MATS!

- Renato Gonçalves

CHRISTIAN PULSIC SCORES AS AC MILAN BEAT BARCELONA IN SHOOTOUT

AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring the second goal against FC Barcelona during an exhibition match at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kim Hairston/staff)

AC Milan beat Barcelona in a shootout at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, on Tuesday night as the two teams prepare for their upcoming club seasons, which are only weeks away.

Robert Lewandowski scored twice to cancel out a goal and an assist by Christian Pulisic as Barca and Milan finished regular time tied at 2-2 before heading to a shootout.

Pulisic set up Luka Jovic early in the first half before scoring one of his own, clipping a clever shot from a tight angle past Barca keeper Marc-André ter Stegen to double Milan's lead.

After conceding twice, Lewandowski pulled a goal back for Barca before half-time after a defensive mistake by Milan left him free at the top of the area to curl a nice shot around Lorenzo Torriani to make it 2-1.

Barcelona drew level before the hour mark with Lewandowski scoring his second, this time shooting into a wide-open net after Pau Victor dinked a delicate cross right into his path in front of goal.

With Milan leading the shootout 4-3, Torriani saved Barca's sixth attempt of the evening to seal the preseason win for Milan.

The match wraps up the teams respective tours of the U.S., with Milan's preseason over ahead of their Aug. 17 start to Serie A against Torino. Barca, meanwhile, will play AS Monaco in the Trofeo Joan Gamper on Aug. 12 in Spain before a road game versus Valencia to begin the 2024-25 LaLiga season under new manager Hansi Flick.

Game Information

M&T Bank Stadium

2:30 AM, August 7, 2024

Coverage: ESPN+

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Over/Under: 3.5

Referees: Victor Rivas