24 Eric García

Eric García Martret (born 9 January 2001) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team. His career has been marked by a steady rise through elite academies and clubs, making a name for himself as a reliable and intelligent defender.

Early Career 

Born in Martorell, Barcelona, Catalonia, García was a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before making a bold move to Manchester City in 2017 at just 16 years old. In his first season at City, he captained the under-18s and played for the under-19s in the UEFA Youth League.

Manchester City: A Stepping Stone

García quickly caught the attention of Manchester City’s first team and joined them for the 2018 summer pre-season in the United States. He made his senior debut on 18 December 2018, starting in the EFL Cup quarter-final against Leicester City, which ended in a penalty shootout victory for City.

His Premier League debut came on 21 September 2019, when he replaced Nicolás Otamendi in a dominant 8–0 victory over Watford. Over the 2019 festive period, he played full matches against Sheffield United and Everton, both of which ended in victories for City.

García gained further recognition on 17 June 2020, when he started against Arsenal in City’s first game after the COVID-19 pandemic break. However, a collision with goalkeeper Ederson left him unconscious, requiring medical attention and hospitalization. Fortunately, he recovered quickly and resumed playing.

Despite ending the 2019–20 season as City’s first-choice centre-back alongside Aymeric Laporte, García declined a contract extension, signaling his intent to return to Barcelona.

Returning Home: Barcelona

On 1 June 2021, García rejoined Barcelona on a free transfer, signing a five-year contract with a staggering €400 million buyout clause. He made his competitive debut on 15 August 2021 in a 4–2 victory over Real Sociedad. However, his early tenure was marred by disciplinary issues, receiving a red card against Athletic Bilbao on 21 August and another in the UEFA Champions League against Benfica on 29 September.

Loan to Girona: Finding His Form

To gain more playing time, García was loaned to Girona for the 2023–24 season. His impact was immediate, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2–1 away win over Villarreal on 27 September, which put Girona at the top of La Liga for the first time in their history. By the end of the season, he had scored five goals, emerging as one of the league’s highest-scoring defenders.

Return to Barcelona and New Achievements

After a successful loan spell, García returned to Barcelona. He marked his comeback with a goal in a 4–0 away victory over UD Barbastro in the Copa del Rey on 4 January 2025. Later that month, on 21 January, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a thrilling 5–4 away win over Benfica.

International Career: Representing Spain

García represented Spain at the under-19 and under-21 levels before earning his first senior call-up on 20 August 2020 for UEFA Nations League matches against Germany and Ukraine. He debuted on 6 September 2020 in a 4–0 win over Ukraine, replacing Sergio Ramos.

His performances earned him a spot in Spain’s squad for UEFA Euro 2020, where he contributed to the team’s deep tournament run. Additionally, he was included in Spain’s squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, further solidifying his place as a key figure in the national team setup.