Arsenal announce first major summer signing as Mikel Arteta transfer plans take shape

Arsenal have signed Spanish international goalkeeper David Raya on a permanent deal from Brentford following a year on loan with the Gunners. Having arrived in north London last summer in August, Raya had to fight to gain the starting place from Aaron Ramsdale.

Making his Premier League debut for Arsenal in a 1-0 win away at Everton, he helped keep a clean sheet and would go on to win the Golden Glove with a further 15 more shutouts. He also became the club’s Champions League goalkeeper and saved a critical penalty against Porto in the last-16 to see Arsenal through to the quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years.

Arsenal paid Brentford £3million to sign Raya on loan last summer and had the option to make the deal permanent with a £27million clause. His permanent arrival is assumed to have secured the number-one spot for years to come raising questions over Aaron Ramsdale’s future.

While it has taken some time for the deal to be announced officially, football.london was told that there were not expected to be any surprises when it came to this deal being formalised. That has of course now taken place but with the deal being completed in July after the latest Profit and Sustainability Regulation deadline.

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Arsenal have plans to further strengthen the side during the window. football.london have been told that the club are confident that more deals will take place leaving the squad in a much better position than how it entered the summer.

Raya will continue onward in the European Championships with Spain who face Germany in the quarter-finals. He will return to the club following a holiday and then join the group on their United States pre-season tour, flying out on July 21.