Diego Kochen is waiting for his Barcelona debut. Could the American feature this term?

AlavésAthletic ClubAtlético MadridBarcelonaCelta de VigoElcheEspanyolGetafeGironaLevanteMallorcaOsasunaRayo VallecanoReal BetisReal MadridReal OviedoReal SociedadSevillaValenciaVillarrealPodcastsCopa del ReyAnalysisDiego Kochen is waiting for his Barcelona debut. Could the American feature this term?Kochen was born in Miami and signed for Barcelona when he was 13 Judit Cartiel/Getty Images Share article“If you have to play, will you be ready?” This was the question Barcelona manager Hansi Flick asked United States youth international goalkeeper Diego Kochen before a La Liga game at Sevilla on October 5 last year. First-choice Joan Garcia was out with a torn knee meniscus and though Wojciech Szczesny was set to stand in, the Polish veteran had been feeling physical discomfort too and wasn’t sure he would be able to play. In the event, Kochen, who was born in Miami, Florida, and joined Barca’s La Masia youth academy aged 13 after his parents moved to the area for work, stayed on the bench. Szczesny was fit enough to start and play the full 90 minutes, though Barcelona suffered a dramatic 4-1 defeat. The 20-year-old is still waiting to make his full debut (he did come off the bench in a winter-break friendly against Mexican side Club America back home in the United States in December 2023) but has played 18 times this season for Barca Atletic, the reserve side consisting largely of academy players who are aiming for promotion from the Spanish fourth tier. There is a chance Kochen’s long-awaited first-team bow could now come sooner rather than later, however. He has been a regular in Flick’s matchday squads during the current campaign, and the German has shown that he rates the youngster since first promoting him for the 2024-25 pre-season tour, also in the States. Barcelona can move 11 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid with five games each to go by winning away to Getafe today (Saturday), and if they were to wrap up a successful title defence early it would not be a surprise to see Kochen rewarded with at least one start. Flick has also considered fielding a full XI made up of La Masia graduates before the end of the season — and he would be the clear option in goal if that happens. But a complicated goalkeeper situation at the Camp Nou, with several changes around the position expected this summer, also means Kochen’s place in the pecking order is a little up in the air. Let’s explain by starting with Szczesny. He has another year left on his contract, and Barca are happy with his impact in the dressing room, but he is seen more as an emergency option these days. There is a sense that the now 36-year-old, who had recently retired from football before his emergency signing in October 2024 after a long-term injury to then first-choice ’keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, would not be viewed as the most ideal replacement if Garcia were to be absent on anything like a long-term basis. In an interview with local media outlet 3Cat earlier this month, Szczesny seemed to hint at a possible exit, saying: “I know I don’t have much time left at this club, but I’ve really enjoyed it.” Ter Stegen was also out injured for that game at Sevilla in October, though he had already been told he would not be getting first-team football with Barcelona this season over the course of a dramatic summer in which he was temporarily stripped of the captaincy in a stand-off with the club. The Germany international, who turns 34 next week, then joined Catalan neighbours Girona on loan in January but suffered a hamstring tear after two games for them and may not return to action this season. Barca would like to move Ter Stegen on in the coming transfer window but his significant salary and the two remaining years on his contract won’t make that easy, and he is not expected to push to leave, either. The now 27-year-old joined fellow La Liga side Elche on loan for the rest of the season in late August but has not been able to establish himself as first-choice there. It would be surprising to see him return to the Camp Nou and compete for a place. Real Sociedad’s Alex Remiro, 31, has often been mentioned as a possible Barcelona target in local reports — and staff in the club’s sporting-director department like him. But he is under contract until June 2027, and it is unlikely that Barca will have the budget to warrant funding his signing. The general picture points to the backup goalkeeper spot for next season potentially being up for grabs and Kochen, if given the opportunity to show what he can do, might well emerge as being best placed to claim it. However, the American has also attracted interest from clubs keen to sign him on loan. If next season looks like continuing in the same vein as this one, he would be willing to leave on such a deal. Under contract at Barca until 2028, he is waiting to hear the club’s plans so he can map out his immediate future. Getting regular game time is highly valuable for a developing young goalkeeper, and though Kochen has combined first-team duties with those 18 appearances for Barca Atletic, he will also need to step up a level or two in order to progress in the way the club believe he can. Doing so would also help his international prospects. Kochen has been called up by the United States’ senior team before, but is yet to make it off the bench. As things stand, he would be a surprise pick in coach Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for the upcoming World Cup finals. When the decision to move for a new goalkeeper was being considered last season, before the signing of Garcia from neighbours Espanyol, Kochen was highlighted as the internal candidate with the greatest potential because of his shot-stopping, physical presence (he is 6ft 3in/190cm) and footwork. The opportunity to sign Garcia for his €25million (£21.7m; $29.3m) release clause was considered too good to pass up, and Barca have had zero regrets after doing so. The 24-year-old (he turns 25 on May 4) has settled brilliantly and, other than the nine games he missed with that knee injury, his debut campaign has been a great success. Given his age, Barca can expect many more of them to come. So could any young rival goalkeeper reasonably hope to achieve a breakthrough at the Camp Nou right now? With regards to Kochen, that is probably getting ahead of ourselves. For the moment, the American has been able to gather experience around training and travelling with the first team, while also having a great season with Atletic, who are just outside the promotion play-off spots on goal difference with two regular-season matches to play. There might not be immediate sight of a route to the first team’s No 1 jersey, but there is certainly potential and promise — and a feeling there will soon be some more positive steps to come. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms