Ter Stegen has surgery and says he'll be out for three months: "Don't worry, I'll be back."

The club's medical team suggested surgery and indicated that the specialist they consider most suitable for the procedure is French doctor Amélie Léglise, who previously operated on Ter Stegen for the same condition in 2023. On that occasion, the lower back pain was caused by a herniated disc. Léglise works at the Centre de Chirurgie Endoscopique du Rachis in Bordeaux and will operate on Ter Stegen at the Sports Clinic Bordeaux Merignac next Tuesday, July 29.

As this newspaper explained, it was important for the goalkeeper to make a decision soon, as the doctor will be starting her vacation in August. This Thursday, the German made his decision: "After intensive discussions with the FC Barcelona medical team and external experts, the quickest and safest way for me to fully recover is through back surgery," Ter Stegen explained. The club later confirmed this with another statement, without specifying how long he would be out. They prefer to wait until the goalkeeper has undergone surgery.

However, there is disagreement regarding the recovery time. There is a certain medical consensus that speculates on a period of between four and five months out, which would leave the goalkeeper sidelined until well into 2026. However, Ter Stegen noted in his statement: "After the last back operation, I returned to the pitch after 66 days, almost two months; but this time, the doctors believe it will take around three months, as a precaution and to avoid any risks." In any case, the length of the sideline, according to the club, will be estimated and announced once Ter Stegen has undergone surgery.

The club would be interested in maintaining its longer estimate, since once the surgery is performed and a period of absence of more than four months is confirmed, it could register another player under Article 77 of the Regulations for the Preparation of Club Budgets, regarding long-term injuries.

Dear Culés, I wear the colors and the FC Barcelona shirt with great pride, both on and off the field, in moments of success as well as in the most difficult. Today is a complicated day for me personally. Physically and athletically, I am in very good shape, but unfortunately, I am not free from pain. After intense discussions with the FC Barcelona medical team and external experts, the quickest and surest way to a full recovery is back surgery. After the last back operation, I returned to the pitch after 66 days, almost two months; but this time, the doctors believe it will take about three months, as a precaution and to avoid taking risks. Emotionally, it pains me greatly not to be able to help the team during this time, but, fortunately, the rehabilitation is manageable and the path back is mapped out. I will keep you informed of my recovery and I want to sincerely thank all of you, dear Culés, who are always by my side. Don't worry, I will be back!

Following the formula used last season—when Szczesny replaced Ter Stegen—the club intends to implement this rule to release 80% of the German's salary and be able to register Joan Garcia, Flick's target. However, Ter Stegen isn't considering not playing when he recovers, nor leaving Barcelona, nor opting out of the two years remaining on his contract.

I'll keep you informed of my recovery, and I want to sincerely thank all of you, dear Barça fans, who are always by my side. Don't worry, I'll be back! Ter Stegen

To make his position clear, he concluded his statement with a firm message: “On an emotional level, it pains me greatly not to be able to help the team during this time, but fortunately, the rehabilitation is manageable and the path back is mapped out. I will keep you informed of my recovery and I want, from the bottom of my heart, to thank all of you, dear culés, for always being by my side. I will keep you informed of my recovery and I want, from the bottom of my heart, to thank all of you, dear culés, for always being by my side. Don't worry, I'll be back!”

The reality is that the goalkeeper, the team captain, holds the upper hand. As of today, he and Iñaki Peña are the only goalkeepers registered in a crucial season for Ter Stegen, who needs continuity to defend Germany's goal at the next World Cup.