Ajax’s tiny wage contribution keeps Barcelona’s salary bill high

Ajax have reached an agreement in principle to take Barcelona captain Marc‑Andre ter Stegen on loan for the rest of the season, with the Dutch side expected to cover only 10‑15 % of his salary, leaving Barcelona to shoulder the majority of the German goalkeeper’s wages.

Ter Stegen, 34, has expressed a strong desire to join Ajax and work under coach Michel, who briefly oversaw him at Girona before an injury curtailed their partnership. His personal wish has been a key factor in pushing the deal forward.

Ajax sporting director Jordi Cruyff, who knows the German from his Barcelona days, has been instrumental in shaping the move, making the loan feel natural for both clubs.

Financially, the arrangement offers limited relief; Ajax would only pick up between ten and fifteen percent of ter Stegen’s current earnings, meaning Barcelona remains responsible for at least eighty percent of one of the squad’s highest wages. This contrasts with earlier reports by Fabrizio Romano that the Dutch club would assume the majority of the wage bill. The limited wage split therefore falls short of the relief Barcelona had hoped for.

The loan was initially intended to ease Barcelona’s wage bill after ter Stegen lost his place in Hansi Flick’s project. The club’s goalkeeping hierarchy has since shifted, with Wojciech Szczęsny arriving after ter Stegen’s serious injury and Joan García now established as the clear first‑choice keeper.

With limited prospects at Barcelona, ter Stegen stands to gain regular minutes and responsibility in Amsterdam, while the club removes a potentially difficult dressing‑room dynamic and avoids retaining a high‑earning secondary goalkeeper.

Although the financial benefit is modest, the move provides a respectful exit for a player with a long history at Barcelona, and its success will depend on how quickly the German adapts to life at Ajax.