Ndidi and ter Stegen link up? Turkish giants look to Barcelona goalkeeper

Besiktas are planning a dramatic late-window splash and could soon bring Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen to Istanbul, potentially making him a teammate of Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.

With the Turkish giants desperate to strengthen key positions ahead of the winter transfer window, reports from Turkey say the club has placed ter Stegen and Sassuolo winger Armand Laurienté at the top of their shortlist.

Turkish outlet Fanatik reports that Besiktas are closely tracking ter Stegen’s recovery from back surgery, which has kept the 33-year-old out of action all season.

Despite returning to individual training, the German goalkeeper has lost his place in the Barcelona starting lineup and, more importantly, has been warned by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann that he needs consistent minutes to compete for Germany’s No. 1 spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This situation has opened the door for Besiktas, who are preparing a loan proposal for the remainder of the season. The plan involves a salary-sharing arrangement, with the Turkish club ready to cover a significant portion of his roughly €6 million half-season wage.

Initial discussions have reportedly begun with the player’s entourage, and while negotiations with Barcelona may prove difficult, Besiktas are confident they can lure him by guaranteeing immediate starting status in both the Turkish Super Lig and the Europa League.

For Besiktas, landing ter Stegen would represent one of the most ambitious signings in Turkish football in years.

The club is undergoing an urgent squad rebuild and sees the German shot-stopper as the perfect solution to their goalkeeping instability. Alongside him, Sassuolo’s Armand Laurienté has also emerged as a key target to strengthen the attack.

If the move materialises, ter Stegen could soon be sharing the pitch with Wilfred Ndidi, who joined Besiktas earlier in the season and has quickly become one of the side’s most influential performers.

The prospect of a Bundesliga and LaLiga-tested goalkeeper and a Premier League-hardened midfielder anchoring the team is one that excites the Besiktas hierarchy.

Still, much depends on whether ter Stegen is willing to swap Barcelona for Istanbul, and whether Barça will accept a mid-season loan.