Arsenal have exercised their £27m option to permanently secure Brentford’s David Raya following his successful loan period last season. Raya, aged 28, achieved an impressive 16 clean sheets in the Premier League, earning the Golden Glove by allowing only 16 goals throughout the season.
Despite having Aaron Ramsdale as their established goalkeeper, who recorded 14 clean sheets over all 38 matches the prior season, manager Mikel Arteta opted to bring in Raya for additional competition. Raya initially signed a new two-year contract with Brentford in August before moving to Arsenal on a loan deal.
Raya’s Impact at Arsenal
“After spending a year on loan at Arsenal, I can finally call myself an Arsenal player for the future,” Raya expressed. “I’m eager to see what lies ahead, while enjoying every moment now.”
Arteta praised Raya’s influence, saying, “He is a significant presence in our squad, and we are delighted to continue working with him. We believe he will build upon the solid groundwork he laid last season and achieve even greater success with us.”
Raya had a challenging start to the season, highlighted by two errors in a narrow 4-3 victory over Luton in December. However, he missed only two league matches, being ineligible against his parent club Brentford. Arteta commended Raya’s passing abilities, which played a crucial role in the team’s strategy.
Notable Achievements and International Duty
Raya solidified his position in March by saving two penalties during a shootout against Porto, leading Arsenal to the Champions League quarter-finals. This feat made him the first goalkeeper to save at least two penalties in a Champions League shootout since Petr Cech in 2012.
Raya was selected for Spain’s Euro 2024 squad, although he remains behind Unai Simon as the preferred goalkeeper. In his sole Euro 2024 match, he kept a clean sheet against Albania as Spain rotated their lineup after securing knockout stage qualification.
