Breaking News: Arsenal Secure Loan Deal for Star Goalkeeper David Raya with Massive £27m Purchase Option!

Arsenal have inked a deal to secure the services of David Raya, the proficient shot-stopper from Brentford. This agreement commences as a loan valued at £3m, with an enticing £27m opportunity for permanent acquisition anticipated in the upcoming summer. However, the realization of this option hinges on specific performance-related prerequisites, chiefly appearances.

The Spanish goalkeeper, who was signed for £3m from Blackburn in the summer of 2019, has recently renewed his contract with Brentford for an additional two years. Additionally, the club holds an option to extend his contract for another 12 months. Raya has now joined Arsenal's goalkeeper department to provide competition for the current number one, Aaron Ramsdale, following Matt Turner's recent transfer to Nottingham Forest for £10m.

David's arrival is a warm embrace for us at Gunners, as the talented goalkeeper joins on a loan deal from Brentford for the entire season. With an impressive track record in the Premier League, David has demonstrated his unwavering excellence between the goalposts.

"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's contract extension with Brentford a fall-back position'

Image:

Raya has agreed to a two-year contract extension with Brentford. Regarding the details of the deal, Phil Giles, Brentford's director of football, addressed the doubts of fans by stating that the decision to structure the transfer as an initial loan with Arsenal having the option to make it permanent in the future was made in order to expedite the deal between both clubs. The objective for all parties involved is to make this a permanent transfer as soon as feasible, regardless of the timing.

David's contract extension serves as a contingency plan if the transfer does not become permanent. Although I do not anticipate David's return to Brentford, if such a situation were to occur, it would be an unexpected bonus for us to have the chance to work with such a top-notch goalkeeper for an additional two years.

Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this.

Open Privacy Options

Twitter

Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this.

David has displayed outstanding skills as a goalkeeper during his time with us. His exceptional performance has earned him a transfer to a Champions League club, marking a significant milestone in his career. We firmly believe that he is among the top goalkeepers in the Premier League and his talent will undoubtedly position him as one of the best in the world in the upcoming seasons.

Raya has been a crucial member of the Brentford squad in recent campaigns, featuring in all 38 Premier League fixtures last season.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper has achieved 20 clean sheets in 62 Premier League matches and has accumulated a total of 161 appearances in various competitions for the Bees. Furthermore, he has also represented Spain twice at the international level.

Who will be first choice - Raya or Ramsdale?

We News senior reporter Melissa Reddy:

With the finalization of the deal for David Raya, Arsenal will no longer have an automatic first-choice goalkeeper. Mikel Arteta and Edu have specifically designed the recruitment strategy this summer to promote increased competition for starting positions within the squad. Strengthening this area was identified as crucial for solidifying the club's position as genuine title contenders, as it has been an evident weak point for Arsenal in recent history.

Image:

Raya has joined the Gunners on an initial loan deal worth £3m, with an option to buy for £27m next summer.

"The strategy has been clearly communicated to both the new signings and the current players in the squad, such as Raya and Aaron Ramsdale. This approach is also evident in the cases of Declan Rice and Thomas Partey. Despite external perception suggesting that the Ghanaian would be sold following Arsenal's record signing of Rice, this actually goes against Arteta's plan."

The manager has informed the players that in order to consistently win major accolades, he expects them to compete among themselves at the highest level in every position.

Ramsdale has expressed his embrace for the challenge of competing with Raya, as he believes it will motivate both goalkeepers to enhance their performance.

Why did Arsenal move for Raya?

Inaka Cana, Arsenal's goalkeeping coach, plays a crucial role in the club's enduring pursuit of Raya. Formerly serving as Brentford's goalkeeping coach, Cana played a significant role in Raya's move from Blackburn to the Bees in the summer of 2019.

Born in Barcelona, both Cana and Raya have shared a connection since Raya's days as a youth player at Cornella, a local team. Raya has consistently praised Cana, particularly when Arsenal expressed renewed interest in him in 2021.

"He has been extremely helpful," Raya stated. "His demeanor on the field is drastically different; he is highly diligent and resilient. I believe every goalkeeper who has trained under him would attest to that fact.

"You gain a wealth of knowledge; he keeps you on your toes consistently and never allows you to regress. He expects every exercise to be performed at maximum effort; settling for anything less than 110 percent is out of the question. Falling short at 80 percent is simply not an option; it is an insurmountable task."

Despite Cana's move to Arsenal in December 2019, after only six months of close collaboration, the pair are believed to have maintained their friendship.

Cana and Arsenal both acknowledge that Raya's passing ability, particularly when playing out from the back, aligns well with Mikel Arteta's team's style of play.

Ramsdale's message to Raya: Bring it On

Image:

Raya will be competing with Aaron Ramsdale

Arsenal's current number one goalkeeper, Ramsdale, has held the position for two years since displacing Bernd Leno at the Emirates in 2021. However, with the arrival of Raya, Ramsdale faces the possibility of losing his spot.

When asked about the new competition in goal, Ramsdale expressed his readiness, stating, "Bring it on. In football, nothing comes easy, but I understand the need to progress and adapt."

"I have experienced this when I transferred to new clubs, so I am not naive to think that it could never happen to me.

If it does occur, we will accept it and strive to bring out the best in each other, just as our manager encourages us to do."

"And I am confident that no matter who takes the field - whether it is me, Matt [Turner], or any other player - any personal disappointment will fade away, and the focus will be on prioritizing the team and supporting the goalkeeper."

Analysis: Raya's rise from non-League Southport to Arsenal

No goalkeeper was used more - by his team-mates and the opposition players - last season.

Raya excelled last season, leading in shots faced, saves made, crosses claimed, touches, and completed passes among all top-flight goalkeepers. Interestingly, we have observed a striking similarity in the way Arsenal and Brentford construct their play from the defensive end, with Cana contributing to both teams. Remarkably, their goal kick trajectories are nearly indistinguishable.

Follow the summer transfer window with Sky Sports

Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on We' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on We News.