FC Barcelona have confirmed that their rising star, 21-year-old goalkeeper Ander Astralaga, will spend the 2025–26 season on loan at Granada CF.
Official: Barcelona youngster completes loan move to Granada
The Basque keeper joins the Andalusian side in search of regular first-team minutes a vital next step in his development.
Astralaga, standing at 1.90 m, arrived at La Masia in 2018 from Athletic Bilbao’s famed youth setup.
He worked his way through Barcelona’s youth teams and made his senior debut with Barca Atletic in March 2022 against Betis Deportivo.
Over the past three seasons, he accumulated 37 appearances with the B‑team and featured in pre-season training camps with Hansi Flick’s first squad. His 30-minute cameo against Manchester City last summer showcased his shot-stopping and aerial prowess.
But life at Barcelona has been fiercely competitive. With four goalkeepers ahead of him Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inaki Pena, Wojciech Szczesny, and Joan Garcia and Barca Atletic relegated to Segunda RFEF, the path to minutes was blocked.
Now, this loan to Granada offers him the vital opportunity to contest for the starting spot alongside Luca Zidane in Spain’s Segunda Division.
Granada announced the deal in a club statement, expressing pride in their acquisition: “The club welcomes Ander Astralaga and wishes him success as a red-and-white player.”
With his contract at Barcelona secured through June 2026, the move represents a clear chance to make his mark.
This loan move stands as a confident vote of faith from both Barça and Astralaga’s camp. For the player, it’s not just a seasonal move it’s a pivotal chapter in his quest to evolve from a youth prospect into a professional keeper.
And for Granada, it’s a calculated gamble on a young man with huge potential, readiness, and hunger to prove himself.
