Pere Romeu succeeds Jonatan Giráldez as new Barcelona coach

Barcelona have appointed Pere Romeu as the team’s new head coach, the club has announced, following Jonatan Giráldez’s move to NWSL side Washington Spirit.

Romeu, 30, was previously part of Giráldez’s backroom staff and has signed a two-year deal with the back-to-back European champions.

Giráldez leaves after three years in charge for a new challenge in the United States after winning 10 trophies from a possible 12 with Barça, including a second Champions League title last month.

The announcement of Romeu concludes a busy week for Barça, who also confirmed the arrivals of Poland striker Ewa Pajor and England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck.

Pajor, 27, joins from German side Wolfsburg in a deal worth around €400,000 ($429,148) on a three-year deal.

During almost a decade with Wolfsburg, she scored 136 goals in 196 appearances and she will help fill the void left by Mariona Caldentey, who revealed she will leave Barça this summer.

Meanwhile, Roebuck, 24, has joined on a two-year contract after her deal expired with Manchester City.

She will replace Sandra Paños, who is leaving Barça upon the expiry of her contract this month, as competition for No.1 Cata Coll.

They will both be part of a new regime, led by Romeu, with Barça considering external candidates before deciding on an in-house appointment — as they did when Giráldez replaced Lluis Cortes in 2021.

Rafel Navarro, another of Giráldez’s assistants, was also in the running for the role before the Catalan club opted for Romeu.

Romeu joined the staff of the women’s team in 2021 but had previously coached at the club’s academy, working with youngsters including Gavi, before spending a year in Romania in 2020.