Marcin Bułka had an outstanding season with Nice, making him one of the most sought-after goalkeepers on the market. There have even been reports that he won’t extend his contract, which expires at the end of June 2026, and that he might switch clubs after the current season.
The player addressed the situation after his recent league match against RC Lens (0:0).
We are in negotiations, and a lot can happen. You never know in life. Right now, I’m fully focused on my game. I will give my all for this shirt
- he said. Despite this, it’s not out of the question that he might become part of a blockbuster transfer.
Marcin Bułka to Join FC Barcelona? Replacing Wojciech Szczęsny
Catalan Sport has announced that Bułka is being considered by FC Barcelona. "The name of the Polish international is already being mentioned within Barcelona’s sporting management" - the article states. This is, of course, linked to the club’s current situation with its goalkeepers.
Following the severe injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the club brought Wojciech Szczęsny out of retirement. Szczęsny signed a contract until the end of the season and will leave after that, unless "his performances are outstanding and he wants to continue playing". However, considering Szczęsny’s recent statements, convincing him to extend his stay seems unlikely. Therefore, the club is already thinking about the future.
Inaki Pena, who is seven years younger than the 32-year-old ter Stegen, could be a natural successor. According to Sport, the club has confidence in Pena, but bringing Szczęsny out of retirement raises doubts about this. For that reason, Barcelona might be considering the transfer of a younger, more promising goalkeeper.
Marcin Bułka Praised by the Spanish: "One of the Goalkeepers Making the Most Progress in Europe"
The Catalan newspaper speaks highly of Bułka. "He replaced Szczęsny in the Polish national team (he played against Scotland, while Łukasz Skorupski faced France and Croatia). At 25 years old, he is one of the goalkeepers making the most progress in Europe. (...) He handles playing with his feet exceptionally well" - they noted. They also reminded readers that Bułka had previously been on trial at Barcelona but ultimately signed with Chelsea.
What else favors Bułka’s transfer? The article highlights his contract situation at Nice and the fact that he is represented by the same agent as Robert Lewandowski, Pini Zahavi. "His agent Pini Zahavi, who has very good relations in Barcelona, has clearly stated that (the goalkeeper) needs to move to a top-tier team. The option of Barcelona could be attractive in terms of competition with ter Stegen and could serve as long-term security for Blaugrana" - the article explains.
At the same time, it’s emphasized that Barcelona’s goalkeeping situation is currently stable. However, if ter Stegen’s serious injury negatively impacts his performance and Szczęsny isn’t convinced to stay longer, the summer transfer plan could be to "acquire a young goalkeeper who won’t require significant financial investment and will accept the role of competing with the German".
This season, Marcin Bułka has played eight matches for Nice. He kept two clean sheets and conceded 11 goals in the remaining games. He has been with the Côte d'Azur club since 2021.
