Barcelona Captaincy: Eric García and Gavi in Line for New Group

The Barcelona captaincy is set for a reshuffle. With Marc-André ter Stegen away on loan and captain Ronald Araújo reportedly closing on a move to Liverpool, the Blaugrana may need to add two members to their leadership group for 2026-27 — and, according to Mundo Deportivo, Eric García and Gavi are the front-runners to fill the vacancies.

Until last season the leadership order ran ter Stegen, Araújo, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha and Pedri. Ter Stegen’s loan exit has already opened one vacancy, and Araújo’s reported departure would open another, leaving de Jong as the senior man. The Dutchman’s knee injury, however, is expected to keep him out at the start of the season, so Raphinha and Pedri are set to carry the armband on the pitch in his absence. De Jong keeps his standing in the dressing room, but Barça need on-field leaders and referees’ interlocutors while he recovers.

How the Barcelona captaincy group now looks

That is where the club’s new leadership group takes shape. Mundo Deportivo report that Eric García and Gavi lead the queue. Both are La Masia products with the personality and dressing-room standing Barça want from their captains, and handing the armband to homegrown players would restore a tradition the Catalans value. Eric García, in particular, has long been tipped as a future captain.

Hansi Flick and the club are expected to settle the order before the season opener, the final piece of a summer of upheaval in the Barça dressing room.