David Raya expressed his excitement after Arsenal confirmed his permanent transfer from Brentford. The 28-year-old goalkeeper initially joined Arsenal on loan last summer and played 41 matches, establishing himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper over Aaron Ramsdale.
Following a successful season, Raya’s permanent move to Arsenal was finalized in a £27 million deal.
Arsenal announced the transfer on Wednesday, and Raya shared his enthusiasm for the future with the club. Reflecting on his transition from a loan player to a permanent member of the team, Raya stated, “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.”
Currently participating in Euro 2024 with Spain, Raya made a significant impact during his first season at Arsenal. He secured the 2023/24 Premier League Golden Glove by keeping 16 clean sheets and was a key part of the league’s top defense, conceding only 24 goals.
With Spain advancing to the quarter-finals and preparing to face Germany, Raya is expected to rejoin his Arsenal teammates by the end of July after a brief rest.
Arsenal’s pre-season schedule includes a trip to the United States on July 21, with matches against Bournemouth, Manchester United, and Liverpool. Additionally, they have games lined up against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon at the Emirates Stadium on August 7 and August 11, respectively.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta aimed to complete Raya’s transfer promptly, indicating his preference for early signings. In May, Arteta mentioned the importance of securing new players at the beginning of the transfer window to build momentum for the team. “That’s the ideal scenario,” Arteta said regarding early transfers. “Every club wants that, we want that as coaches and for the players especially. Then for the team and for the environment. When you do that something clicks there and it’s really important because it starts to give you momentum.”
Arteta also acknowledged the challenges posed by international tournaments like the Euros and Copa America, which have complicated transfer dealings this summer. “But there are Euros this season and Copa America, so it might be a different summer,” he noted.
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