Arsenal have completed the signing of David Raya with Brentford’s Phil Giles backing him for huge success in North London.
David Raya has secured his move to Arsenal this afternoon with Brentford confident that he will shine in North London.
After weeks of speculation, Raya has now become an Arsenal player.
Brentford have confirmed a season-long loan deal for Raya to join Arsenal, with the option of a permanent deal.
Raya has also signed a new two-year deal with Brentford with the option of another 12 months.
That is just to protect Brentford; Raya was set to be out of contract next summer and could have simply walked away if Arsenal didn’t turn the loan permanent.
Brentford aren’t expecting to see Raya come back next summer but you just never know, so the Bees have been sensible here.
Raya heads to Arsenal in a somewhat surprise move, with many believing that Arsenal don’t need another goalkeeper.
The Spaniard clearly backs himself to really challenge Aaron Ramsdale and Brentford seem confident that he can shine with Arsenal.
Brentford chief predicts David Raya success at Arsenal
Brentford director of football Phil Giles has now commented on Raya’s move, telling the club’s official website about the contract decision.
Giles noted that Raya coming back would be an ‘unexpected bonus’ with Brentford expecting him to be gone for good.
The Bees have already signed Dutch stopper Mark Flekken as a replacement for Raya and he started the weekend draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Giles added that Raya has been simply ‘magnificent’ for Brentford and believes that he deserves this big move to a Champions League club.
Giles also confidently predicts that Raya will prove that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world during his time with Arsenal.
The 27-year-old clearly wanted to leave Brentford this summer but Giles has praised his attitude, clearly still thinking very highly of the Spaniard.
“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,” said Giles.
“David has been a magnificent goalkeeper for us. He thoroughly deserves his move to a Champions League club and the next step in his career. In our view he is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and will show himself to be one of the best in the world in the next few seasons.”
“On top of that, he is a fantastic human being, and his conduct around the training ground these last few weeks has been, given the uncertainty around his future, absolutely exemplary. We wish him nothing but good luck,” he added.
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