The Incredible Journey of David Raya: From Non-League Sensation to Premier League Star

David Raya constantly captivates attention. In fact, he managed to turn heads right from his earliest days playing soccer in England. Merely after a single training session during his trial at Blackburn 11 years ago, the club swiftly made the decision to secure the then-15-year-old talent from the Spanish club Cornella, for a mere £10,000. How modest that amount seems today.

According to his manager Thomas Frank, the Brentford goalkeeper's value has now reached £40m. There is increasing speculation about whether Raya, who is entering the final year of his contract, will be pursued by the so-called 'Big Six' during the summer transfer window. On the final day of the Premier League season, just before confirming Mark Flekken as the Bees' new goalkeeper signing, Frank stated, "We only have one player available for sale, and that's the one everyone's been discussing – David."

"He is worth £40 million. As a selling club, however, we require substantial sums if we are to consider letting anyone go. Fortunately, the atmosphere at Brentford is such that everyone is content and unwilling to depart. This upcoming summer is expected to be hectic for Raya, but the goalkeeper is no stranger to such circumstances."

'He's like an extra outfield player'

Raya stands out as the most utilized goalkeeper of the season, both by his teammates and the opponents. Throughout the campaign just concluded, he encountered the highest number of shots, made the most saves, excelled in claiming the second-highest number of crosses, displayed remarkable ball control with numerous touches, and successfully completed the most passes among all top-flight goalkeepers. Raya's exceptional versatility in encompassing traditional shot-stopping abilities expected from a No 1 along with his proficiency in playing from the back truly epitomizes the archetype of a modern goalkeeper. These qualities are not unfamiliar to those who have closely followed his career.

The Brentford goalkeeper attributes a lot of his development to Steven Drench, who worked with him for several years in the Blackburn academy as a development goalkeeper coach.

Drench, now serving as both a dual player-goalkeeper coach for Chorley, a sixth-tier team, played a significant role in guiding Raya's development from his trial as a teenager to his rise to the first team at Blackburn.

"When I first met the young goalkeeper from Spain, I immediately noticed his European style of movement in the goal, but what truly impressed me was his exceptional technique, ability to make crucial saves, and remarkable athleticism," reminisces Drench during his conversation with We.

Raya stated that collaborating with Drench, a goalkeeper renowned for his skillful footwork, significantly enhanced his performance.

"Drench was no stranger to handling the ball with his feet due to his extensive experience playing futsal in Spain during his early years," reveals Raya. "However, we intentionally incorporated various activities such as football golf and head tennis into our training regimen, focusing particularly on distribution drills to further strengthen this aspect of his game."

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Raya's exceptional distribution skills have been instrumental in his ability to continue playing at the age of 37. With the evolution of the game, coaches now prioritize a goalkeeper's proficiency in using their feet. The ability to make crucial saves, collect crosses, and exhibit skillful footwork are now considered essential qualities coaches seek in a goalkeeper.

Raya's exceptional distribution is a significant asset, perfectly aligned with Brentford's dynamic style of play. However, his skill and confidence on the ball make him adaptable to any top-tier team in Europe. He possesses qualities that make him resemble an additional outfield player on the field. This was evident when Brentford achieved promotion to the Premier League in 2021, as Raya outperformed other Championship goalkeepers by completing an impressive 300 more passes throughout the season.

Jurgen Klopp also witnessed this firsthand when he brought his Liverpool team to face Brentford in September 2021. On that day, Raya's exceptional distribution skills were on full display, particularly evident in his precise long pass to Sergi Canos, which played a significant role in Brentford securing their second goal in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

"The goalkeeper could easily don the No 10 jersey. He delivered numerous remarkable passes, precisely what you would expect when facing us," Klopp remarked about Raya.

The Brentford goalkeeper, Raya, was well aware of this. "Our playing style has always depended on it," Raya explained to We a few weeks after the Liverpool game. "Opposing teams don't usually put as much pressure on the goalkeeper, which allows me more time compared to the center-backs.

"We have discovered that this strategy has enabled us to create goal-scoring opportunities throughout the past two seasons. I take risks and have the ability to find the player who may not score directly, but can ultimately create a chance."

Given Brentford's expertise in aerial duels, it is logical to utilize Raya's exceptional long-ball skills. The Bees currently boast three players, Ben Mee (1st), Ivan Toney (6th), and Ethan Pinnock (7th), who rank among the top 10 in the 'aerial duels won' category this season.

Throughout his career, Raya has consistently showcased his remarkable footwork as a Spanish goalkeeper. His time at Southport during the 2014-15 season, where he gained valuable experience in non-league football, further contributed to his development alongside renowned goalkeepers such as Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope.

During Raya's time at the Conference Premier club, Gary Brabin was recruited to assume control of the team, which was positioned at the bottom of the fifth-tier standings.

"He was a aspiring goalkeeper ranked low in Blackburn's hierarchy," Brabin informs We. "The question was, 'will he possess the necessary experience for this relegation fight?' Since resilient individuals are required."

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During the 2014-15 season, Raya briefly played for non-league Southport. A new manager took over when the team was at the bottom of the league, causing many players to feel demoralized and unsure about the future. However, this was not the case for David. He possessed an incredible personality - full of confidence and positivity - which had a contagious effect on the squad. This resulted in a strong team spirit and a wonderful atmosphere within the team.

His feet were truly impressive. David's confidence on the ground set us apart from other teams at our level, enabling us to swiftly rise from the bottom four positions. His exceptional skills were crucial to our success.

With him anchoring our defense, we felt secure knowing he not only kept the ball out but also initiated our attacks. He was our foundation, and it proved to be a winning formula for us.

'Hands like shovels'

Raya, on the other hand, is not merely defined by his exceptional footwork. One standout moment from the Liverpool game in 2021 was his brilliant reflex save, denying Diogo Jota's close-range shot. His ability to make crucial saves has been evident since his days in Blackburn's youth academy.

"David's uniqueness lies in the fact that he doesn't conform to the typical stereotype of a 6ft 4in or 6ft 5in goalkeeper. He has always fought against that perception," notes Drench. "As a result, he possesses a little extra spring, power, and athleticism."

Being capable of executing exceptional saves is essential. However, his agility in the goal and skillful footwork make him a complete package. Whenever he made a save, there was always a playful remark about his ability to swiftly change direction while sitting on his bottom. I never wanted to diminish that aspect as it allowed him to defend the goal with remarkable speed.

The saves he makes now are remarkable, as he is able to push the ball two or three yards beyond the post due to his exceptional footwork. His agility and power enable him to cover a larger portion of the goal when he takes that crucial step. As a result, he effortlessly turns challenging saves into seemingly effortless ones.

Furthermore, in person, you'll notice his hands resembling shovels, as they are incredibly sizable.

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Raya's ability to make saves is equally impressive to his skills with the ball. His hands proved to be extremely useful during his time at Southport. The moment that really put him on the map as a goalkeeper was during a FA Cup third-round match against Steve McLaren's Derby in 2015.

Southport came close to forcing a replay against the Championship leaders at Pride Park, with Raya making a series of impressive saves. Unfortunately, Chris Martin's penalty in stoppage time shattered the hopes of the non-league club. However, word was spreading about the exceptional skills of the Spanish goalkeeper. "Back then, I publicly stated that he was a Premier League caliber goalkeeper and that he would represent Spain," recalls Brabin. "Some people thought I was being overly optimistic, but I genuinely had faith in him."

I secured a position at Everton's academy where I advocated for his signing. I made an inquiry based on my strong endorsement, but unfortunately, it did not progress any further.

During his time at Blackburn, I visited Luton with the intention of recruiting a goalkeeper. David was my top choice, but other teams had their eyes on him and ultimately, Brentford secured his services.

Arsenal expressed interest in Raya's services in mid-2020, as they sought competition for Bernd Leno before eventually selecting Aaron Ramsdale. Earlier this season, Gary Neville suggested Raya as a suitable replacement for David de Gea at Manchester United. However, it is important to note that Raya has already surpassed this goalkeeper rival in the pecking order for the Spain national team.

Those are the big strides the goalkeeper has taken, from the days at Southport to "one of the best in Premier League", according to Frank, who is already planning for life without his No 1.