İnaki Pena

Spanish goalkeeper who played for Barcelona and Galatasaray before joining Panathinaikos in 2026.

Born on March 2, 1999

Age: 27

Profession: Professional footballer

Place of Birth: Alicante, Spain

Iñaki Peña, whose full name is Ignacio Peña Sotorres, was born on March 2, 1999, in Alicante, Spain. He is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Panathinaikos FC in Greece. He developed in the youth academies of Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona, spent the second half of the 2021–2022 season on loan at Galatasaray SK, and later played for Barcelona's first team and Elche CF. On June 23, 2026, he completed a permanent transfer from Barcelona to Panathinaikos, signing a three-year contract.

Early Life and Youth Career

Iñaki Peña began playing football at Alicante CF in 2004, when he was five years old. He remained with the club until 2009, when he joined the youth academy of Villarreal CF.

In 2012, at the age of 13, Iñaki Peña moved from Villarreal to FC Barcelona's La Masia academy. He developed as a goalkeeper through Barcelona's youth teams and eventually progressed to the club's reserve side.

Standing 1.84 metres tall, he represented Spain in several youth national teams, including the under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 categories.

Barcelona Academy and Barcelona B

During the 2017–2018 season, Iñaki Peña was part of the Barcelona under-19 team that won the UEFA Youth League. He started in the final against Chelsea FC, which Barcelona won 3–0.

On April 16, 2018, he renewed his contract with Barcelona for three seasons, with an option for two additional years. Ahead of the 2018–2019 season, he was promoted to Barcelona B, which competed in Segunda División B.

He made his senior competitive debut for Barcelona B on October 6, 2018, in a 1–1 draw against CD Atlético Baleares. Over the following seasons, he continued playing for the reserve team while regularly training with the senior squad.

Iñaki Peña was called up to Barcelona's first-team squad as a substitute goalkeeper during the 2018–2019 season, including for the Copa del Rey tie against Cultural Leonesa. He provided additional goalkeeping cover during the 2019–2020 season when Norberto Murara Neto was unavailable through injury.

He also appeared in first-team friendly matches, including a preseason fixture against Gimnàstic de Tarragona in 2020. On October 6, 2020, Barcelona exercised its option to extend his contract by two further years, until June 2023.

Loan Transfer to Galatasaray

On January 31, 2022, Iñaki Peña joined Galatasaray SK from Barcelona on loan until the end of the 2021–2022 season. The Turkish club announced the agreement on the same day. He joined the squad managed by Domènec Torrent, who had previously worked within Barcelona's coaching structure.

During his time in Istanbul, Iñaki Peña made six appearances in the Turkish Süper Lig and two in the UEFA Europa League. Both European matches were against his parent club, Barcelona, in the round of 16.

On March 10, 2022, he played against Barcelona at Camp Nou and kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw. In the return match in Istanbul on March 17, Galatasaray lost 2–1 and was eliminated from the competition.

The loan agreement ended on June 30, 2022, and he returned to Barcelona for the following season.

Barcelona First-Team Career

Following his return to FC Barcelona, Iñaki Peña made his official first-team debut on November 1, 2022, in a UEFA Champions League group-stage match against Viktoria Plzeň. Barcelona won 4–2 under coach Xavi Hernández.

On January 3, 2023, he was formally registered as a Barcelona first-team player and assigned the number 13 shirt. He also appeared in Copa del Rey matches against CF Intercity and AD Ceuta FC.

On May 9, 2023, Iñaki Peña signed a new contract extending his stay at Barcelona until June 30, 2026. The agreement included a release clause of €400 million. He was part of the Barcelona squad that won the 2022–2023 Spanish league championship.

During the 2023–2024 season, he received regular first-team playing time following an injury to Marc-André ter Stegen. He played in domestic and European competitions, including Barcelona's 1–0 league victory against Atlético de Madrid in December 2023.

2024–2025 Season and Barcelona's Domestic Treble

Iñaki Peña again became Barcelona's starting goalkeeper for a period during the 2024–2025 season after Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a serious knee injury. Head coach Hansi Flick selected him for a number of La Liga and Champions League fixtures.

On October 26, 2024, he played in Barcelona's 4–0 away victory against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Barcelona's goals were scored by Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

In January 2025, he appeared in the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid after Wojciech Szczęsny was sent off. Barcelona won the match 5–2.

Barcelona finished the 2024–2025 season winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Iñaki Peña was part of the squad that secured all three domestic trophies.

Loan to Elche CF

On August 27, 2025, Iñaki Peña signed a contract extension with Barcelona until June 30, 2029, before joining Elche CF on loan for the 2025–2026 season. The loan agreement ran until June 30, 2026.

He made 16 La Liga appearances for Elche during the season and recorded four clean sheets. In November 2025, he played in a 2–2 draw against Real Madrid, making a save against Kylian Mbappe.

Transfer to Panathinaikos

On June 23, 2026, FC Barcelona and Panathinaikos FC officially announced an agreement for the permanent transfer of Iñaki Peña to the Greek club.

He signed a three-year contract with Panathinaikos, running until June 30, 2029. The transfer ended his association with Barcelona, which had begun when he joined La Masia in 2012.

During his Barcelona career, Iñaki Peña made 28 La Liga appearances. His move to Panathinaikos marked his third experience outside Barcelona's senior squad, following his loans to Galatasaray and Elche.

International Career

Iñaki Peña represented Spain at youth international level from under-16 through under-21. He was part of the Spanish under-17 squad that reached the final of the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, losing to Portugal on penalties.

He subsequently represented Spain at under-18 and under-19 levels and made an appearance for the under-21 national team in 2020.

In 2021, Iñaki Peña received a call-up to Spain's senior national team but did not make his senior international debut.

Youth Career

2004–2009 – Alicante CF
2009–2012 – Villarreal CF
2012–2018 – FC Barcelona (La Masia)

Professional Football Career

2018–2022 – FC Barcelona B
2022 – Galatasaray SK (Loan)
2022–2026 – FC Barcelona (First Team)
2025–2026 – Elche CF (Loan)
2026–Present – Panathinaikos FC

Spain National Team Career

2014–2015 – Spain U16
2015–2016 – Spain U17
2017 – Spain U18
2017–2018 – Spain U19
2020 – Spain U21
2021 – Spain Senior Team (Called up, no appearance)