Arsenal have announced the signing of goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford on a season-long loan deal with an option to make the move permanent.
The 27-year-old becomes Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer after they concluded deals for Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice.
Raya comes in after Matt Turner joined Nottingham Forest last week and will wear the No 22 shirt for Arsenal.
Raya arrives 🧤 pic.twitter.com/2UaPiDDp33
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 15, 2023
"David is a top-quality goalkeeper, who has consistently performed to a high level with Brentford in the Premier League," sporting director Edu told the club's official website.
"With David joining us we are adding quality and depth to our squad so we can perform at the highest possible level in all competitions."
While the deal is structured as a loan, Brentford director of football Phil Giles says he is not expecting the Spaniard to return to the club.
"I’m sure the first question that all Brentford fans will ask is why this transfer has been structured as an initial loan with Arsenal having the option to make it permanent in the future," Giles told the club's official website.
"The answer to that is simply that it enables this deal to be done more rapidly between both clubs, with all parties wanting to make this a permanent transfer as soon as practically possible, whenever that might be.
"David’s contract extension is a fall-back position in the event that the transfer is not made permanent. I’m not expecting to see David back at Brentford, although if ever that happened then of course the opportunity to work with such a high-class goalkeeper for up to two more years would in many ways be an unexpected bonus for us."
The Blackburn Rovers Academy graduate joins Arsenal off the back of four impressive years with the Bees, being instrumental in the club’s promotion to the Premier League two seasons ago and their ninth-place finish last campaign.
He made the most saves in the division last season, with 154, and kept 12 clean sheets, the fifth-most of all 'keepers.
Raya featured for Spain against Albania in March 2022 and was part of the squad that won this summer's UEFA Nations League.
He is set to compete with Aaron Ramsdale for the No 1 spot and could be available for Arsenal when they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday 21 August.
