Dominik Livaković (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Barcelona have registered Dominik Livaković for the new season after Gabriel Jesus' cheaper transfer created enough financial space to keep the Croatian goalkeeper.
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Dominik Livaković will stay at Barcelona. The Catalan club has registered the 31-year-old Croatian international with La Liga, ending speculation that he could leave on loan shortly after his arrival.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona's decision over Livaković was directly connected to their search for another striker. Had the club completed the significantly more expensive signing of Julián Álvarez, financial fair play restrictions would have made registering the Croatian much more difficult.
Instead, Barcelona signed Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal for around €10m. The considerably cheaper deal created enough room in the wage budget for Livaković to be registered.
Livaković moves ahead of Szczęsny
Livaković is now expected to begin the season as Joan Garcia's deputy, putting him ahead of 36-year-old Wojciech Szczęsny in Barcelona's goalkeeping hierarchy. Garcia joined from Espanyol for €25m in 2025 and remains the first choice.
That represents an improvement on the scenarios previously discussed for Livaković, when another loan move or a role as Barcelona's third goalkeeper appeared possible. Coach Hansi Flick has also publicly backed the Croatian, saying on Sunday: " He is a goalkeeper for the present, but also for the future."
Livaković has signed a four-year contract with Barcelona after a turbulent period in his career. He spent part of last season on loan at Girona from Fenerbahçe but failed to make an appearance, with Paulo Gazzaniga preferred in goal.
He subsequently returned to Dinamo Zagreb, rediscovered his form and impressed at the World Cup. After returning to Fenerbahçe, where Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson was the established first choice, his representatives eventually found an opportunity at Barcelona.
Dinamo waited, but Barcelona won the race
A return to Dinamo for another season had also been discussed. The Croatian champions were prepared to offer their former captain a six-year contract on almost the best financial terms available at the club, but eventually moved for Dominik Kotarski while Livaković's situation remained unresolved.
Dinamo president Zvonimir Boban admitted this week that the club – and particularly he himself – may have been too sentimental and waited too long because Livaković's return initially appeared to be the most logical solution.
When the possibility of taking Livaković on loan eventually became realistic, Dinamo had already chosen another direction. Boban wished his former captain well, although he pointedly remarked that Livaković had decided " to be Barcelona's third goalkeeper, not Dinamo's first."
Barcelona's final decision suggests Livaković's position could actually be stronger than that. With his registration completed, the Croatian will stay in Catalonia and is currently expected to enter the season behind Garcia but ahead of Szczęsny.