Barcelona goalkeeper, Inaki Pena, is nearing a loan move to Elche in the coming days, in a step that takes him back to his hometown of Alicante, according to the newspaper "Mundo Deportivo".

The deal is in its final stages after a meeting between the player's agent and the director of football at Barcelona, held at the sports city facilities in Sant Joan Despí. The meeting resulted in an agreement to renew Pena's contract, which ends in June 2026, while allowing him to go on loan to Elche.

This move is part of Barcelona's efforts to improve its position under Financial Fair Play rules, as Pena's temporary departure will enable the club to register goalkeeper Szczesny as a second keeper behind Juan Garcia.

Although clubs like Como and Celta Vigo had previously shown interest in signing the player, the return to his roots and the good relationship between Pena and the current Elche coach, Eider Sarabia, who previously worked as an assistant to Quique Setien at Barcelona, were decisive factors in finalizing the agreement between the two parties.

Sources close to the player confirmed to the newspaper that the deal could be officially finalized at the beginning of this week, without needing to wait for the last day of the transfer market, which is set to close on September 1.