David Raya officially joins Arsenal on long-term deal
David Raya is now officially an Arsenal player, as the Gunners have exercised the option to buy and extended the Spanish international’s contract for the long term.
Arsenal announced the permanent signing of the Barcelona-born goalkeeper, who is currently competing in Euro 2024 with Spain.
“The 28-year-old keeper spent last season on loan with us and was integral to our success, making 41 appearances and keeping 20 clean sheets. Sixteen of those were in the Premier League, earning David the 2023/24 Premier League Golden Glove,” the club stated.
Key Player for Arsenal
David Raya moved to England at 16, signing with Blackburn Rovers, where he helped the team achieve promotion to the Championship and made 108 senior appearances.
He was briefly loaned to Southport during his development. In the summer of 2019, Raya joined Brentford, where he made 161 appearances and kept 54 clean sheets, including 16 in his first season, earning a share of the Championship Golden Glove.
He played a crucial role in Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League.
Raya had an impressive campaign last season, excelling both domestically and in Europe.
Notably, he saved two penalties against Porto in the Champions League round of 16, helping Arsenal reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years.
He also helped Spain win the UEFA Nations League 2023 and kept clean sheets in their Euro 2024 preparation matches.
A dream come true
“After a year on loan as a Gunner, I can finally say I am an Arsenal player for the years to come. It’s a dream come true to be here, and I want to thank you all for your support throughout the last year,” Raya said about his permanent transfer.
Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his delight, stating, “David showed last season how important he is for us, and we are thrilled he is now officially our player. He is a strong presence in our dressing room, and we look forward to continuing to work with him. We know he will build on the solid foundation he laid last season and achieve even more success with us.”
The exact length of Raya’s contract has not been disclosed by the club.
