FC Panathinaikos announces the signing of Iñaki Peña from Barcelona. The 27-year-old Spanish goalkeeper has signed a three-year contract and joins the Greens to provide top-level experience, quality, and defensive security.
Iñaki Peña was born on March 2, 1999, in Alicante and is considered one of the most talented Spanish goalkeepers of his generation. He started playing football at the age of five in Alicante’s academy and, in 2012, moved to Barcelona’s renowned academy, La Masia, after leaving Villarreal.
He was a key member of Barcelona’s youth team that won the UEFA Youth League during the 2017–18 season, starting in the final against Chelsea. That same year, he signed a new contract with Barcelona and was promoted to the club’s reserve team, making his debut for Barcelona B in October 2018, while also being included in first-team squads.
In 2022, he joined Galatasaray on loan, where he made his first-team debut and left a positive impression in the Turkish league.
After returning to Barcelona, he made his official first-team debut under Xavi in the UEFA Champions League against Viktoria Plzeň in November 2022. In January 2023, he became a regular member of the first-team squad and, a few months later, celebrated winning the Spanish league title and renewed his contract.
His big opportunity came during the 2024–25 season when Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a serious injury. Hansi Flick entrusted Peña with the starting goalkeeper role for a significant part of the season. He particularly stood out in Barcelona’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in El Clásico in October 2024, receiving excellent reviews for his performance. He made 16 appearances and contributed significantly to the league title triumph. He also came on as a substitute – following Wojciech Szczęsny’s red card – in the 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, and celebrated winning the Copa del Rey and the domestic treble, while also making appearances in the Champions League.
In August 2025, he renewed his contract with Barcelona until 2028 and was subsequently loaned to Elche.
At international level, Peña has represented Spain at every youth level, from the Under-16 to the Under-21 teams. He was a starter during Spain’s run to the final of the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and, in 2021, received his first senior national team call-up, although he did not make an appearance.
We welcome Iñaki into Panathinaikos family.
