Arsenal close in on first summer signing after activating £27m transfer clause

Arsenal are set to sign David Raya permanently

Arsenal are set to complete the permanent signing of David Raya after activating the £27million purchase option which was included as part of his loan move last summer.

The Spaniard, 27, joined the Gunners from Brentford initially for the 2022/23 campaign and quickly usurped Aaron Ramsdale to become the club's first-choice goalkeeper. It was always expected that Raya's switch would become permanent - and Arsenal are now working to make that a reality.

As outlined by The Mail, Arsenal have activated the option to keep Raya at The Emirates. Brentford, who banked a £3m loan fee last year, will receive a further £27m for the shot-stopper.

Raya is currently with Spain at Euro 2024 but no issues are anticipated with wrapping up the deal, meaning the former Blackburn Rovers man should become the Gunners' first official capture of the summer transfer window.

Raya won the Premier League Golden Glove award last season after recording 16 clean sheets. He kept 20 in total after forcing his way into Mikel Arteta's team in September.

Arteta was full of praise for Raya earlier in the season and his maiden season in north London was an impressive one despite a small number of errors. Speaking back in February, Arteta said of Raya: “What I like about David as well is what he does in goal - the things he prevents us from, you don’t even see because they don’t happen, because he has anticipated them,” Arteta said back in February.

“Obviously he had the environment that was very challenging, but that’s what I love about him. The players with the courage and the character and personality. When even it is like this, they want to be themselves and they push themselves to do that.

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“He has earned the right to be respected and I’m really happy that he’s winning. I think it's a great opportunity as well to adapt certain players in certain positions or roles and in spaces and see how they react and they are so willing.

“And that sometimes gives you a different solution that you hadn't thought of, because the situation requires and when you have players that are willing to change it and to do it, normally good things happen.”

With Raya set to join permanently, Ramsdale is expected to depart Arsenal this summer and is believed to have Premier League suitors. The club's No.3 goalkeeper, Karl Heinz, recently signed a new contract.

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