FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has confirmed a new defender for his squad on the eve of the 2026/2027 season.

With Jules Kounde possibly sold and often injured last term, Eric Garcia will be a solid option at right back while keeping his fellow former La Masia pupil Xavi Espart on his toes there.

SPORT reports that Flick has Garcia training in the position, ahead of a friendly match away at Basel on Sunday.

The surprise exit of Ronald Araujo to Liverpool on loan for the mentioned term leaves the Catalans a right back short even though central defense is, or was, the Uruguayan’s primary area of the pitch.

We’ve already seen reports that Sporting Director Deco has commissioned the signing of a top level central defender.

Yet with two weeks until the close of the transfer window, nothing has been done in that respect while the Portuguese chases Rodri at Manchester City and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.

There’s been talk of Alvaro Cortes impressing Flick enough to stay with the first team fold. Yet with all due respect to the 21-year-old, he might not currently boast the experience to be a solid choice in the elite until he has more minutes under his belt.

This season might be the making of the Zaragoza native. But in the meantime, Flick is looking at Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin and Gerard Martin as his primary picks - which isn’t ideal in terms of depth.

Joao Cancelo can operate at right back too, but his permanent move from Al-Hilal is being made complicated after impressing in a La Liga-winning 2025/2026 loan spell. In said, season he also played left back more often than not and dislodged Alejandro Balde from the first XI.

Eric Garcia will become more of a right back at FC Barcelona

Back to right back, this is one of many positions that Flick’s Swiss Army knife is capable of managing, and he did so in the league-deciding installment of El Clasico against Real Madrid in May.

Last season, he put up impressive numbers there across 11 matches, with an average of 83 touches per game and 92% passing accuracy.

The Martorell man, who recently won the World Cup with Spain, enjoyed 93% passing success in his own half and 91% in that of the opponent.

Add to that 1.4 interceptions, 3.3 recoveries and 2.3 clearances and you have someone more than capable of fitting the bill giving competition to Espart and Kounde, the latter of whom’s agent was called to FC Barcelona headquarters this week.