Barcelona keeper Pena to join Panathinaikos

Barcelona have agreed a deal for their goalkeeper Inaki Pena to ​join Greek club Panathinaikos after a ‌season on loan at Elche, the LaLiga champions said in a statement on Tuesday.

Spaniard ​Pena, 27, had joined Barcelona's ​youth system in 2012, and debuted ⁠for their first team in 2023, ​after a loan spell at Galatasaray. He ​appeared for Barcelona in 28 LaLiga matches, earning 10 clean sheets.

When Barcelona's first-choice keeper Marc-Andre ​ter Stegen suffered a long-term knee ​injury in 2024, coach Hansi Flick turned to ‌Pena ⁠as the German's replacement.

At Elche, Pena played 16 league games, with four clean sheets, and played a key role ​in holding Real ​Madrid ⁠to a 2-2 draw in November with a superb save ​to deny Kylian Mbappe.

"FC Barcelona ​would ⁠like to publicly thank Inaki Pena for his commitment, professionalism and dedication during ⁠his ​time in blaugrana and ​wishes him all the best," Barcelona said in ​a statement.