Football Transfer Rumour: Arsenal Seal First Signing Of 2024 As Goalkeeper Signs On

Arsenal are expected to complete the permanent signing of goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford FC, reports transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. The Gunners, who brought Raya in last summer on a loan deal with a view toward making it permanent a year later barring any significant unforeseen circumstances, will pay 27 million pounds to sign the Spanish custodian. Raya, in turn, has alreaddy agreed to a long-term contract with Arsenal, which will be made official once the clause is triggered. (Football News)

Raya, who has been capped thrice by Spain, has eight starts for Arsenal in the Premier League in 2023-24 and 12 across all competitions. The Spaniard has replaced regular first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in goal for the club, a matter which was addressed directly by Ramsdale's father in a recent interview. 

"We did not have a clue," he said, when quizzed about his son's sudden exclusion from the first team. "I didn't have a clue, our family didn't have a clue, Aaron didn't have a clue that he was not going to carry on playing. All of a sudden, he's not been played.

"You just have to look at it personally and I'm probably saying too much but: Aaron is going to be the cup goalkeeper, and David Raya is going to be the main man unless something happens, an injury or a sending-off. And Aaron's got to live with that and he is living with that even though he's not been told it. By anybody.

"Squads evolve all the time, nobody is going to be there forever. David Raya has not pulled up trees so far, let's say he's not going to. Even though the way it's been done, in my eyes, it's been wrong."

Raya, who was born in Barcelona, Spain, graduate with Blackburn Rovers in England, before moving to Brentford in 2019. He helped the Bees reach the Premier League in 2021.