August 08, (THEWILL) – Arsenal have reached an agreement with Brentford to sign Spanish goalkeeper, David Raya, for a fee that could rise to £30 million.
The 27-year-old is expected to sign a five-year contract with the Gunners after completing a medical. Raya has been instrumental for Brentford since joining them in 2019, making over 100 appearances across all competitions. He was ever-present last season as the Bees finished 13th in their first English Premier League campaign.
The former Blackburn Rovers youth product is known for his shot-stopping ability and comfort with the ball at his feet. These attributes made him an attractive option for Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, who wants his goalkeepers to be able to play out from the back.
Raya will provide competition for current number one, Aaron Ramsdale, who had an impressive debut season after joining from Sheffield United last summer. However, Ramsdale’s form dipped towards the end of last season. Bayern Munich were also interested in signing Raya this summer, but the Spaniard opted to remain in London.
The 27-year-old will link up with former Brentford goalkeeping coach, Inaki Cana Perez, who joined Arsenal’s coaching staff last year.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
