FC Barcelona have appointed Raphinha as the club’s new first-team captain for the 2026/27 season, following the departure of first captain Marc-André ter Stegen and second captain Ronald Araújo.
Ter Stegen joined Ajax on loan until June 2027, while Araújo moved to Liverpool on loan for the same period. Barcelona confirmed Araújo’s loan on August 10, stating that the defender had made 213 appearances and scored 14 goals for the club.
Last season, the official first-team captain was ter Stegen, with Araújo serving as second captain, followed by Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha and Pedri.
With ter Stegen and Araújo now away on loan, Barcelona have promoted Raphinha to first choice, with Pedri as second choice, Eric García third, Frenkie de Jong fourth and Lamine Yamal fifth. FC Barcelona had initially announced that Raphinha, Pedri and Eric García would serve as captains while the squad was being finalised, before the definitive internal vote.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the final arrangement is a combination of Hansi Flick’s decisions and an internal vote among the players after the transfer window. Reports on the final order confirm Raphinha and Pedri were Flick’s choices, while Eric García, Frenkie de Jong and Lamine Yamal were selected through the players’ vote.
Marc-André ter Stegen made 423 appearances for Barcelona, kept 176 clean sheets and conceded 416 goals, according to Transfermarkt’s career statistics. Barcelona’s official records also confirm his 423 official appearances for the club.
Ronald Araújo has made 213 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists since joining the club in October 2020. Barcelona’s official website confirms his 213 appearances and 14 goals, while Transfermarkt also lists him with 213 Barcelona appearances and 14 goals.
