Barcelona signs Dominik Livakovic as third-choice goalkeeper through 2030

Barcelona keeps shuffling its goalkeeping options, and this time the new addition carries a Croatian accent. The Catalan club confirmed on Thursday the signing of Dominik Livakovic, a 31 year old goalkeeper arriving from Turkey's Fenerbahce after putting his signature on a contract through 2030.

The move comes just weeks after Barcelona decided to send Marc-André ter Stegen out on loan to Ajax, a decision that left an obvious gap in Hansi Flick's available goalkeepers. Livakovic now steps in to fill that void, though not as the starter: his expected role is that of third choice, behind Joan García, who has established himself as the club's regular starter, and the experienced Wojciech Szczesny.

Why sign a Croatia international to warm the bench? The answer has to do with the track record and reliability Livakovic can provide in key moments, something Barcelona values as it looks to avoid depending on a single option between the posts across a long season packed with multiple competitions.

A path that runs through Girona

Livakovic's road to Camp Nou (or its current version, with the stadium still under renovation) has not been a short one. He came through the ranks at NK Zagreb before making the jump to Dinamo Zagreb for the 2016-17 season, a club where he stayed for seven years and where he cemented himself as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in Croatian soccer. He then signed with Fenerbahce, where he spent two seasons.

In the middle of that stretch in Turkey there was a Spanish detour: Livakovic played on loan at Girona, a spell that did not end on the best terms. Girona's coach, Míchel, was critical of the goalkeeper's attitude, accusing him of not prioritizing the club during part of the season.

The goalkeeper refused to play a match and wanted to leave the club, all he cared about was the World Cup.Míchel

After that uncomfortable stint, Livakovic returned to Dinamo Zagreb, also on loan, before resurfacing now in Spain's top flight, this time in a different jersey. Barcelona's confidence in him has a lot to do with his international resume: he has been a regular for Croatia since 2017 and has played in the last three World Cups and the last two European Championships, a body of work few backup goalkeepers can match.

No financial details of the deal were disclosed for now. What is clear is that in the coming transfer window Flick will have a goalkeeping room with three notable names: Joan García as the undisputed starter, Szczesny as an experienced backup, and Livakovic as a third option with plenty of international pedigree, even if his competitive role in the locker room remains to be seen.