Iñaki Peña has had many offers this summer and, with one week left before the transfer window closes, it seems that he has finally found a destination. The 26-year-old from Alicante has a contract with Barça until 2026, but the reality is that his future has taken an unexpected turn. Not only will he not leave on a transfer, but he will also do so with a long-term contract renewal in hand.
He will stay in Spain
According to "Jijantes", Iñaki Peña is set to join newly promoted Elche. The team from Elche are looking for a proven goalkeeper in LaLiga at a high level, and the homegrown Barça player has been chosen. Eder Sarabia is the coach there, and he knows him well from his time at Barça as Quique Setién's assistant.
Before heading to Elche, Peña will renew his contract with FC Barcelona. He will add three more seasons to the agreement he already has. In other words, he will leave signing until 2029, in a move that will lower his wage bill to facilitate his departure on loan... as well as give some margin for pending registrations.
Iñaki Peña, born in Alicante, will play the newly started season at Elche, being able to go to a place where he can grow and live close to his family.
Important test at Elche
At Barça, Iñaki Peña has always had to live in the shadow of goalkeepers like Ter Stegen, with few real opportunities to shine. Now, at Elche, he will find a much more favorable scenario. A club where he fits perfectly, with a project that needs him and where he will have the goal at his disposal.
This loan benefits not only the player but also Barça. At Camp Nou, they want to see if Peña can take that definitive step to become a real future alternative for the goal. If he manages to establish himself as a starter in the top division, he will increase both his market value and his chances of returning to the Catalan club with more weight.
Meanwhile, Elche gain a goalkeeper with experience, good footwork, and great reflexes between the posts, qualities that can give defensive security and confidence to the locker room. For Iñaki Peña, it's a golden opportunity: to show that he can be a protagonist at the elite level and stop being that eternal substitute in Barcelona.