De Jong welcomes Ter Stegen to his former club

Marc-André ter Stegen received a touching surprise on Tuesday after his move to Ajax was at last made official, with long-time Barcelona teammate Frenkie de Jong sending the German goalkeeper a heartfelt video message to mark the occasion.

Ter Stegen had long been expected to secure a fresh move away from Catalunya's capital this summer, following an injury-hit loan stint with Girona during the second half of the 2025/26 campaign. Ajax, in turn, spent the last couple of weeks locked in negotiations with the experienced shot-stopper and his entourage over the terms of a season-long contract, with a deal officially confirmed on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old has already set about settling into his new surroundings in Amsterdam, no doubt hopeful of a much-needed bounce-back season on a personal level. And he was aided in those efforts by a close friend and long-time teammate who knows the club better than most.

"I'm very happy that you're going to Ajax"

De Jong, who made his own name in the colours of Ajax before moving to Barcelona, collaborated with his former employers to send Ter Stegen the following video message:

"Hello, Marc, congratulations on your signing. I already told you in person, but once again, I'm very happy that you're going to Ajax. I think the club is also very happy."

"They will have a good player and a good person. The people in Amsterdam will take very good care of you, as they already did with me. The fans are amazing, the people are amazing, the club is very nice."

"I'm very excited to see you play for Ajax. I will support you from here and I will be happy. All the best, and if you want to know anything, you can call me."

The message underlines the strong bond between the pair, forged over years together at the Camp Nou, and offers Ter Stegen a warm endorsement as he embarks on the next chapter of his career in the Eredivisie.