Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has successful back surgery

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has successfully undergone back surgery to address persistent lower back problems, the club confirmed today. The operation, which was deemed a success, now sets the German international on a recovery path that is expected to sideline him for approximately three months. This significant period of absence means the Catalan giants will be without their crucial shot-stopper for a considerable portion of the current campaign, depending on the exact timing of the surgery within the football calendar and the club's fixture list.