After winning everything, Barça continues to fit the pieces of its next puzzle. If on Monday he announced the arrival of Ewa Pajor to reinforce the Blaugrana attack, this Wednesday it was the turn to announce the new guardian of the Barcelona goal. The one chosen to replace the departure of Sandra Paños is the Englishwoman Ellie Roebuck, who arrives from Manchester City as a free agent and will sign until 2026.
Roebuck, a 24-year-old international who trained in City’s youth ranks, will leave the English team after eight seasons. She will compete for the goal with Cata Coll, starting goal last season, and Gemma Font, who recently renewed her contract as a Blaugrana until 2025.
“I am very excited. She had been waiting for that opportunity for a long time. I am very happy to be here. You could say that now everything has fallen into place, it was the perfect time to come,” she explained in the club’s media.
The great unfinished business for the goalkeeper at the club level is undoubtedly the Champions League. Her achievements include one English League, three FA Cups and three FA Women’s League Cups with City and one European Championship and two Arnold Clark Cups with the English team, as well as the runner-up finish in the last World Cup alongside the Catalans Lucy Bronce and Keira Walsh. “I want to test myself and live a new experience. There is no better place to do it than here, so I am grateful for the opportunity,” she added.
I want to test myself and live a new experience. There is no better place to do it.”
Ellie Roebuck
Barça defines its new goalkeeper as someone who stands out for her footwork, as well as bravery as a personality trait to overcome high pressure and look for spaces. In addition to her youth, 24 years old, Ellie is 1.74 meters tall. “I certainly like to play with the ball at my feet and this is the perfect team to do it. They like to have possession and play from the back, so I hope to contribute my style,” Roebuck acknowledged.
Barça announces the signing of English goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck
German Parga FCB
Overcame an occipital lobe infarction
The goalkeeper has also overcome difficult moments. Last March she suffered an occipital lobe infarction. “I am ready to give everything and be back to what I love most, football. I wasn’t feeling well for a while, I underwent some tests and they discovered that she had suffered a heart attack in the occipital lobe. Fortunately, I have no consequences on the functions of the brain or my vision,” she explained on her social networks.
In the absence of official status, it will be Pere Romeu, Giráldez’s third assistant, who will lead the Barcelona bench. And after the announcements of Pajor and Ellie Roebuck, at least one more reinforcement is expected.
To make up for the departure of the versatile Mariona Caldentey, Barcelona is studying the signing of Kika Nazareth from Benfica. The Portuguese is a promising 21-year-old forward with a termination clause of 1 million euros, far from what Barcelona offered. The footballer is represented by Jorge Mendes, an agent very close to Laporta who will continue trying to get Benfica to reconsider his position.
Barcelona is also considering incorporating Laia Aleixandri, who currently plays for Manchester City. The Catalan, who can play as a center back and as a pivot, is a player raised in the Barça youth system so she knows the system well. She later grew at Atlético de Madrid and has established herself at Manchester City. Both Nazareth and Alexandri have contracts until June 2025.
