Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal’s first transfer of the summer

Carlo Garganese

• 5 May 2024 11:30 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal will soon confirm their first signing of the summer transfer window.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that they will complete the permanent signing of David Raya from Brentford for €32 million.

Raya joined Arsenal from Brentford on loan last summer in a controversial deal.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

There was an option in the loan to make the deal permanent for £27m (€32m).

However, Romano has since explained that this clause was never really an option and Arsenal were always obliged to sign Raya as the format of the deal was done to help the Gunners bypass Financial Fair Play rules.

And now Romano says that everything is in place and the transfer just needs to be announced.

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What did Romano say?

“Arsenal’s plan remains clear since last summer: David Raya will become an Arsenal player on a permanent deal from Brentford for £27m. It’s all verbally agreed between parties,” Romano confirmed.

Raya displaced Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal’s number one this season in goal.

Ramsdale had performed admirably as they went close to winning the Premier League title last season.

But manager Mikel Arteta believed that Raya would be an improvement on Ramsdale, especially in his distribution and construction from the back.

Raya was a big disappointment in the first half of the season, making a string of errors and largely looking nervy after displacing Ramsdale as first choice.

He has improved in the second half of the season, and has more clean sheets than anyone in Premier League.

Raya is now set to sign permanently with the Gunners, with official confirmation arriving shortly.

Arsenal are in the race to win the Premier League and are currently top of the table - but Man City can overtake them if they win their game in hand.