Official: Barcelona goalkeeper joins La Liga club on loan after renewal until 2029 | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have now officially announced that out-of-favour goalkeeper Inaki Pena has completed a loan move to Elche after signing a three-year contract renewal at the club.

“FC Barcelona and first-team player Inaki Pena have reached an agreement to extend his contract until June 30, 2029,” the club statement read.

“FC Barcelona and Elche Club de Futbol have also reached an agreement for the loan of the goalkeeper for the current season, until June 30, 2026,” it added.

Pena had fallen down the pecking order at the club behind Joan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, and the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen. As such, an exit this summer was always a given.

While initially a permanent departure was contemplated, Barcelona changed their minds and opted to hand him a three-year extension on his previous contract. which would have expired in 2026, before sending him out on loan.

Pena’s exit means that the Catalans should now have enough Fair Play margin to register Szczesny in time for their upcoming game against Rayo Vallecano.

As for Pena, he will hope to make the most of his time at Elche to either increase his stock and market value and secure a bigger move next summer or push for a place at Barcelona, given the long-term uncertainties surrounding Szczesny and Ter Stegen.