David Raya completes £30m move to Arsenal from Brentford
Arsenal have confirmed the loan signing of Spanish goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford. The Gunners moved quickly to secure a deal for the 27-year-old after expressing interest in signing a new shot-stopper earlier in the summer.
Raya – who played 161 matches for Brentford, including 62 in the Premier League – will provide competition for Arsenal No. 1 Aaron Ramsdale. USA international Matt Turner played back-up to Ramsdale last season but has joined fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest on a four-year deal.
Arsenal agreed personal terms with Raya at the beginning of August and agreed to sign the Brentford goalkeeper on a £3m loan with an option to buy at the end of the season for a further £27m.
Raya’s Career So Far
The Spaniard becomes Mikel Arteta’s fourth signing of the summer following Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber’s arrivals at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal sporting director Edu said: ‘David is a top-quality goalkeeper, who has consistently performed to a high level with Brentford in the Premier League. With David joining us we are adding quality and depth to our squad so we can perform at the highest possible level in all competitions.’
Raya began his professional career at Blackburn Rovers but helped Brentford secure promotion from the Championship following a £3m move to west London in 2019. While the two-cap Spain international will have aspirations to replace Ramsdale, the Arsenal and England goalkeeper has welcomed the added competition at the Emirates.
Ramsdale’s Response
Asked about Arsenal’s move for Raya earlier in the month, Ramsdale told ITV Sport: ‘Bring it on. Nothing comes easy in football. But also at the same time you need to move along and adapt as well. I’ve done it to other people when I’ve moved to clubs. I’m not going to be thinking that it’s never going to happen to me.
‘So, yeah, I think if it happens, it happens and then we’ll fight and we’ll make each other the best version of ourselves because that’s what the manager is telling us as well. I’m sure whoever plays, me, Matt [Turner], whoever comes in, the goalkeeping union, people will laugh at but it’s a real thing, and your individual disappointment will go away and you’ll put the team first and you’ll put that goalkeeper first as well.’
Reaction From Gary Neville
Meanwhile, Manchester United legend Gary Neville has backed Arsenal’s move for Raya and described Ramsdale as ‘erratic’. ‘That actually really impressed me the other day because I thought the idea of signing him was another sort of message that he’s not taking what happened last season lightly,’ Neville said on The Overlap.
‘The things that caused them a problem were minor details in the last 10 games, but Ramsdale was one of those issues in those last 10 games. He was erratic and you can’t have that with a keeper with 10 games to go. You can’t have an erratic goalkeeper.’
Conclusion
Arsenal have spent almost £250m on the new arrivals after impressing last season and almost winning their first Premier League title since 2004. The Gunners begin their 2023-24 Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, having beaten Manchester City on penalties in the Community Shield final.
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