Barcelona Signs Dominik Livakovic to Secure Goalkeeping Future
Dominik Livakovic touches down in Barcelona today, but the real story is not the flight time or the medical. It is the question his arrival explodes open inside the club: where, exactly, will he be playing in the 2026/27 season?
The Croatian international is expected in the city this afternoon, heading straight into the machinery of a club that wants its goalkeeping future locked down before any alarms start ringing. His medical is booked for tomorrow at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Once he clears that, the final paperwork of his move to Barcelona can be wrapped up.
On the surface, it looks simple: a new goalkeeper comes in, the department gets stronger. Underneath, it is anything but straightforward.
A signing for now – and for what comes next
Barcelona are not reacting to a crisis. They are moving before one appears.
With Wojciech Szczesny’s contract running down, Deco and the sporting department have decided they do not want to be left scrambling when the Pole reaches the end of his deal. Livakovic is their answer, a goalkeeper they believe can serve both the present and the future.
That is why the club attach such importance to this operation. He is not being brought in just to fill a squad list or pad out training sessions. In their planning, Livakovic profiles as a potential long-term solution between the posts, which makes every step from this week onward critical.
The first steps are already mapped out. The plan is for him to land at Barcelona’s private flight terminal at around 5:30 p.m. local time, then report to the training ground tomorrow for medical tests. If all goes as expected, the final formalities of his signing will follow quickly.
Then comes the real decision.
Two paths on the table
Once Livakovic officially becomes a Barcelona player, the club must choose his immediate route.
One option is a loan. Barcelona could send him out to a club where he would play regularly, banking a full season of top-level minutes before returning to fight for the shirt when Szczesny’s contract expires. From a development standpoint, the logic is clear: a goalkeeper arriving with rhythm, confidence, and match sharpness is far more prepared to step straight into a demanding role.
But the alternative is powerful in its own way.
Barcelona are also seriously weighing the idea of keeping him in-house from day one, working directly under Hansi Flick this season. That scenario would allow the coaching staff to shape him daily, immerse him in the club’s style, and accelerate his adaptation to the demands of playing for Barcelona, even if his game time is initially limited.
Right now, nothing is settled. The club have their goalkeeper on the way, the medicals lined up, and the contract ready. The next few days will not just complete a transfer; they will set the course for who guards Barcelona’s goal when Szczesny’s time is up – and how quickly Livakovic can grow into that role.
