David Raya has now admitted he may not stay at Arsenal following a loan transfer from Brentford, with the Spain goalkeeper dreaming of sealing a potential move elsewhere.
The Gunners hired the 28-year-old on loan for the recent campaign with an option to buy in 2024. Mikel Arteta even quickly established Raya as his No1 at Arsenal with Aaron Ramsdale dropped last September. Raya went on to win the Premier League Golden Glove award, too.
Raya displaced Ramsdale between the sticks at Emirates Stadium after three league fixtures on Arteta’s bench following his arrival in mid-August. Arsenal won each of those games, yet Ramsdale lost out as Arteta favoured Raya’s talent on the ball and stuck with him thereafter.
David Raya dreams of moving to La Liga with his Arsenal transfer still uncertain
Ultimately, Raya featured in 32 Premier League fixtures for 16 clean sheets and even played nine of Arsenal’s 10 Champions League ties. Ramsdale only appeared in Europe for a dead-rubber group stage tie at PSV Eindhoven as Arsenal already reached the knockout stages.
Now, Raya is at Euro 2024 attempting to help Spain become the first four-time winner of the European Championship. But after paying £3m for his loan, Arsenal are yet to pay Brentford £27m for Raya’s permanent transfer. And Raya admits staying in north London is not certain.
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La Roja’s No2 has not closed any doors for his future, despite expectations that Arsenal will trigger their option to buy Raya. The five-cap shot-stopper has also revealed that he dreams of a transfer to La Liga one day. Raya has never played in the top-flight in his home country.
“I would like to play in Spain one day,” Raya told OK Diario. “As I have never played in the Spanish league, then returning would not be returning. Coming home, at some point, yes.
“I don’t close any doors. Right now, I am very happy in the Premier. Let’s see what happens this year, if I stay at Arsenal or not. You have to see.”
David Raya was far from perfect in his debut season at Arsenal
Raya left Spain as a youth as the goalkeeper left Cornella to join Blackburn Rovers’ academy back in 2012. He has since played exclusively in England, including a loan spell at Southport in 2014. Raya played 108 senior games with Blackburn, 161 for Brentford and 41 at Arsenal.
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His start to life in N5 was far from ideal, though, despite Arteta placing his unyielding trust in the Spaniard. Raya produced an extremely nervy performance against Manchester City after panicking whenever he received the ball. Raya also cost Arsenal two goals at Luton Town.
His positioning at Kenilworth Road nearly proved costly as Declan Rice rescued a 4-3 win in the 97th minute. Raya refused to use his feet to block Ross Barkley’s goal and failed to beat Elijah Adebayo to meet a corner. He also gifted Tottenham Hotspur a goal in April’s 3-2 win.