The Catalan giants now have one of the most coveted goalkeepers on the market, coming from Espanyol, despite the interest of some important Premier League clubs. The decision was made by Garcia himself, as the only way to leave the club was to pay the aforementioned amount.
The signs of affection offered by the player towards his former team have not prevented him from heading to the eternal rivals, Barcelona, where he is expected to play a leading role.
The club's idea now is to get rid of Inaki Pena and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, captain and undisputed keeper in the last few seasons when he has been fit, and to keep Wojciech Szczesny as reserve goalkeeper.
Joan has been the big name in his position throughout the 2024/25 season in LaLiga, and was a key player in Espanyol's effort to stay up.
In fact, he was the leader in terms of saves - a total of 146, a difference of 14 ahead of his closest challenger. His good work, however, has not yet been enough to earn him a call-up from Luis de la Fuente for the national team.
Garcia played all 38 games last season, earning an average Flashscore player rating of 6.8. In total, the Catalan goalkeeper kept eight clean sheets, or around 20 per cent of his total appearances.
Analysis: Why Garcia's transfer could plunge Barca into another crisis
Garcia's emotional farewell
"The time has come for us to part ways. Today, I have to say goodbye to the club that has been my home since I was 15 years old. During all this time, I have tried to grow every day as a footballer and as a person, always with humility, effort, and the pride of defending the goal of RCD Espanyol.
"I have given everything I had inside me to help the team, to represent this crest with the utmost dedication and to live up to what it means to defend this shirt," said Garcia in his farewell to Espanyol.
"I know that this decision will not be easy for everyone to understand. I'm not asking you to do so. But I do want you to know that it has been a very well thought-out decision, thinking not only about my career but also about what is best for the club, for my family and for me.
"It is not just any goodbye, it is a stage that is closing with the conviction that everything I have experienced has made me better," he explained.