Barcelona star signs renewal until 2029 ahead of loan departure; announcement imminent | OneFootball

In a crucial update, Mundo Deportivo reports that Inaki Pena has signed a contract extension with Barcelona until 2029 and will now depart on loan to Elche.

The move is expected to be announced officially in the coming hours.

A necessary step for multiple reasons

Pena started last season as Barcelona’s second-choice goalkeeper behind Marc-Andre ter Stegen. But an injury to the German and the emergency signing of Wojciech Szczesny changed everything for the La Masia graduate.

As such, his exit was always on the cards this summer, with Pena now set to join Elche on loan after extending his contract.

The decision was based on both sporting and financial reasons. Barcelona believe that the 26-year-old needs playing time after a campaign in which he barely had opportunities.

Renewal signed, loan departure next. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

His loan move to Elche will not only provide him with the chance to feature regularly in La Liga but will also help free up salary space in the squad, a necessary step in order to register Szczesny, following his new contract signing in the summer.

In addition, Pena will have the opportunity to increase his market value at Elche before returning to Barcelona next summer.

With the academy star’s exit now set to be made official soon, Szczesny’s role will now be that of second-choice goalkeeper, behind Joan Garcia, who has established himself as the starter at the beginning of the season.

Meanwhile, Ter Stegen is still recovering from back surgery and is expected to be out for around four months.

This will be Pena’s second loan spell away from Barcelona, having previously played for Galatasaray in the 2021-22 season.