Arsenal are on the brink sale Aaron Ramsdale, a year after controversially deciding to bench the goalkeeper in favor of David Raya.
Ramsdale was named in the 2022/23 PFA Team of the Year as the Gunners mounted a first genuine Premier League challenge in 15 years. At that stage, he might have hoped to displace Jordan Pickford as England’s number one at Euro 2024.
But things fell apart very quickly when Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta decided Raya would be a better tactical fit. The Spaniard arrived from Brentford on loan and has since joined permanently.
Now, however, Ramsdale seems poised to get his career back on track. The Athletic reports that Arsenal have agreed a £25m transfer that includes add-ons. A medical is the next step, but all indications are that he will join the Saints before Friday’s transfer deadline.
In turn, Arsenal will “advance their efforts” to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol as a replacement. The 23-year-old Spaniard became a starter for the Barcelona club in March last season as they secured promotion to La Liga, but would serve as Raya’s replacement in north London.
For Ramsdale, it means a return to the South Coast. The Stoke-born goalkeeper joined Bournemouth for £800,000 from Sheffield United at the age of 19 and spent three-and-a-half years with the Cherries. He was a starter in his final season there in 2019/20, before returning to Sheffield for £18.5m. A year after that, arsenal agreed a £24m deal, which could rise to £30m.
Veteran Alex McCarthy has been restored as a starter for Southampton so far this season, with Gavin Bazunu ruled out for the long term with an Achilles injury. McCarthy had been an alternate since 2022.
