David Raya Secures Permanent Arsenal Move in £27m Deal

Arsenal have officially signed goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford on a long-term contract, following a successful loan spell.

The deal sees the Gunners pay £27m for the Spain international, in addition to the £3m loan fee from last season.

Raya expressed his excitement to Arsenal's official website, saying,

"After a year on loan as a Gunner, I can finally say that I'm an Arsenal player for the coming years.”

“I'm excited to see what the future holds but always living in and enjoying the present.

It's a dream come true to be here and I want to thank you for all the support you have already given me throughout the last year."

The 28-year-old made an immediate impact in his debut season with Arsenal, claiming the Premier League Golden Glove with 16 clean sheets and 20 in total across 41 appearances.

At 1.83m, David Raya was the shortest goalkeeper to play in the Premier League last season.

He still won the Golden Glove 🏆📏 pic.twitter.com/mAt3ndZ0Th

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) July 4, 2024

His stellar performances were pivotal in Arsenal’s impressive campaign, which saw them finish second in the Premier League and reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

Currently representing Spain at Euro 2024, Raya's journey to North London began after four years at Brentford, following his departure from Blackburn.

With Raya now firmly in place, Arsenal's goalkeeping situation remains fluid. Aaron Ramsdale, who made only 11 appearances last season after losing his starting spot to Raya, faces an uncertain future.

Ramsdale has attracted interest from clubs, including Newcastle, but any decisions regarding his future are expected post-Euro 2024, where he is part of England's squad. The goalkeeper has two years left on his Arsenal contract, with an option for an additional 12 months.

Five Arsenal players out, six still involved as we head into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.

🇩🇪 Kai Havertz
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bukayo Saka
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Declan Rice
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Aaron Ramsdale
🇫🇷 William Saliba
🇪🇸 David Raya pic.twitter.com/uQkClfq6pm

— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) July 3, 2024

While Arsenal are keen to retain the 26-year-old, they acknowledge his potential desire for more regular first-team football. A loan move remains a possibility if an agreement beneficial to all parties is reached.