Marc-André ter Stegen’s loan to Girona has taken a terrible turn. He suffered a severe hamstring injury. This happened during Girona’s match against Real Oviedo on Saturday. It was only his second game for the club. This latest setback casts a shadow over his season and future.
Immediate Impact and Recovery Outlook
The injury, a hamstring tear, is more serious than first thought. Initial assessments point to a long road back. Doctors need the inflammation to go down before the final tests. But early indications suggest at least two months on the sidelines. Surgery isn’t ruled out either. That could end his season completely, according to ESPN sources.
Barcelona and Girona are already in discussions. They’re talking about terminating the loan early. Ter Stegen might return to Barcelona for rehabilitation.
Girona confirmed the injury on Monday, February 2, 2026. They mentioned additional medical evaluations are coming for a full diagnosis. It’s a rough start for the 33-year-old goalkeeper at his temporary home.
A History of Setbacks and Shifting Roles
This isn’t Ter Stegen’s first injury problem. He’s had a string of them lately. Last season, a knee injury kept him to just nine appearances. This current season started with him missing four months after back surgery. He only returned in December for a Copa del Rey match.
And he lost his starting spot at Barcelona. Joan García took over under the new coach, Hansi Flick. Flick joined Barcelona in 2024. Ter Stegen, who’s played over 400 games for Barcelona since 2014, needed this loan. He joined Girona around January 20.
The goal was simple: get regular playing time. He wanted to boost his chances for Germany’s World Cup squad. Now, his World Cup hopes are threatened.
Flick’s Reaction and Girona’s Goalkeeping Dilemma
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick spoke about the news on Monday. He sounded genuinely sorry for his player.
“I just heard the news. I didn’t speak with him, but I am very sorry for him. But we have to wait for the results and see what happens.”
His words show the uncertainty. And it’s a big problem for Girona. They signed Ter Stegen because of issues with their current keepers. Paulo Gazzaniga and Dominik Livaković showed inconsistent form. Girona needed a short-term solution.
They thought they had it with Ter Stegen. Now, they’re back to where they started. Barcelona, though, is doing fine. They lead LaLiga. Their squad is mostly healthy, except for a Raphinha thigh strain.
But Cadena SER reports that the injury is “more severe than initially anticipated.” Barcelona is aware of it all. OneFootball states Barcelona isn’t ruling out an immediate return for Ter Stegen. This whole situation is a mess for everyone involved.
The Uncertain Road Ahead
No one has an official recovery timeline yet. Two months is the minimum. Surgery could push that longer. It could end his season. The medical teams wait for the swelling to go down. Only then can they get a clear picture.
He started two games for Girona, against Getafe and Real Oviedo. That’s it. It was a short, unlucky spell. Girona has to figure out its goalkeeping again. And Ter Stegen faces another long period of recovery. He’s been through it before. But this one cuts deep, hitting his World Cup dreams.
Soureesh Datta 
Ishaan Singh 
Govind Singh