Arsenal is about to announce a £27 million transfer, marking their first signing of the summer.
Arsenal have exercised their option to permanently sign David Raya from Brentford.
Mikel Arteta’s decision to bring the Spanish international on loan last season raised eyebrows, as it led to Aaron Ramsdale being sidelined.
Initially, Raya struggled to prove he was an improvement over the popular 26-year-old Ramsdale, who had become a fan favorite during his first two years at the Emirates Stadium.
However, as the season progressed, Raya’s performance improved significantly. His crucial penalty saves played a key role in Arsenal’s victory over Porto, helping them reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2009.
By the end of the season, Raya had earned the Golden Glove award with 16 clean sheets, solidifying his status as the club’s primary goalkeeper.
The 28-year-old will soon be officially confirmed as an Arsenal player on a permanent deal, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that last season’s Premier League runners-up will pay £27 million.
Meanwhile, Ramsdale’s future remains uncertain, as the former Sheffield United goalkeeper is unlikely to accept a backup role again.
Newcastle had shown interest in Ramsdale, but Arsenal’s valuation deterred them from making a move.
If Ramsdale leaves as anticipated, Arsenal will proceed with their plan to sign a new No.2 who can compete with Raya.
The Gunners have been linked with several potential new goalkeepers, including Monza’s Michele Di Gregorio, Brighton’s Jason Steele, and Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow.
Interestingly, Arteta is reportedly interested in his former Arsenal teammate, Wojciech Szczesny.
The experienced Polish international fits the homegrown criteria that Arsenal prioritize for any potential successor to Ramsdale.
Szczesny has one year left on his current Juventus contract, and the Italian club is likely to sell a goalkeeper this summer as they work on signing Michele Di Gregorio from Monza.