Joan García Pons is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for La Liga club FC Barcelona and the Spain national team.
Born on 4 May 2001 in Sallent de Llobregat, a modest town of around 7,000 inhabitants in the Bages region of Catalonia, about an hour north of Barcelona, he stands 1.93 metres tall.
He grew up in a close-knit, discreet family environment, with his mother Teresa Pons running a herbalist’s shop in nearby Manresa and his father Jerónimo García maintaining a low profile.
García is known for his strong reflexes, command of the penalty area, ability with the ball at his feet, and a grounded personality that keeps him connected to his hometown roots, where he often returns for respite in the mountains and familiar surroundings.
Siblings
Joan has an older brother named Lluís García.
Lluís played as a goalkeeper for the local Centre d’Esports Sallent team during weekends when Joan was a young child.
At around five or six years old, Joan, who had initially played as an outfield player, regularly watched his brother’s matches and decided he wanted to follow in those footsteps by taking up the goalkeeping position himself.
In interviews, Joan has credited Lluís as his biggest early influence, stating that he simply wanted to be like his older brother.
Career
García began playing football at age four with hometown club CE Sallent, starting as an outfield player before switching to goalkeeper under his brother’s influence.
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He progressed through CE Manresa and CF Damm before joining the RCD Espanyol youth academy in 2016 at the age of 15.
He made his senior debut with Espanyol B in September 2019 in Segunda División B.
His first-team debut for Espanyol came in the Copa del Rey in December 2021, followed by his La Liga debut in January 2022.
After limited appearances and the club’s relegation, he established himself as first-choice goalkeeper in the 2023–24 Segunda División season, contributing significantly to promotion via the play-offs with strong performances and clean sheets.
In the 2024–25 La Liga campaign, he became a key figure in Espanyol’s survival, leading the league in saves.
In June 2025, Barcelona activated his release clause of approximately €25 million plus taxes, signing him on a six-year contract until 2031.
He quickly became the first-choice goalkeeper, making his competitive debut and featuring regularly in La Liga, the Champions League, and domestic cups.
Despite a brief interruption for knee surgery early in his Barça tenure, he recovered to play a central role as the team secured major silverware.
He has also represented Spain at youth levels from under-17 to under-21 and earned senior caps starting in 2026.
Accolades
García won Olympic gold with the Spain under-23 team at the 2024 Paris Games.
With Barcelona, he claimed the Spanish Super Cup in the 2025–26 season and the La Liga title in 2025–26.
He was part of the Spain squad that won the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Individual recognition includes Espanyol’s Male Player of the Season for 2023–24, selection in The Athletic’s La Liga Team of the Season for 2024–25, the Zamora Trophy as La Liga’s best goalkeeper for 2025–26 based on goals conceded per game, and various monthly awards such as La Liga Save of the Month.
He has also received local honours recognising his achievements as a Catalan athlete.
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