Arsenal make £27m transfer decision as Edu grants Mikel Arteta's first summer wish

Arsenal have already decided to activate the option in David Raya’s loan deal to make him a permanent signing. The Spaniard was a surprise signing for the Gunners last season, with Mikel Arteta snapping up a number of big money signings, seemingly prioritising other areas, as was expected with Aaron Ramsdale doing a pretty solid job during the previous campaign.

But Arsenal then circled back and signed Raya on loan with an option to buy, causing a stir given the inevitable impact the signing would have on Ramsdale and his game time. Raya quickly won the starting job at the Emirates Stadium, with Arteta wanting a goalkeeper who can play with the ball at his feet. Raya fit the bill and enjoyed a hugely impressive season, playing a key role in Arsenal’s Premier League title bid, even if it did ultimately fall short. The Spaniard won the Premier League Golden Glove award, which is awarded to the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets, and it has become clear that he will be the club’s number one for the foreseeable future.

The Daily Mail now say Arsenal have activated the £27million option to buy clause in the loan and that the club will announce it in the coming days. It has been heavily reported that the option to buy was actually an obligation to buy, with reports initially differing on that front. Either way, the Gunners always seemed intent on signing Raya full-time, and the loan appeared to be a mechanism to dodge Profit and Sustainability issues amid a summer of huge spending.

Raya has already appeared on the club’s website in the new shirt, so his permanent arrival at Arsenal was never in doubt. The former Brentford goalkeeper is currently with Spain at Euro 2024, but he is second choice to Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon. His only appearance of the tournament came in La Roja’s final group stage game against Albania, with Luis de la Fuente making 10 changes due to his side winning their group with a game to spare. Spain face Germany in the quarter-finals on Friday. Gunners boss Arteta was asked in May whether Arsenal would be activating the option to buy. He said: "Those conversations are for after the season. We will review where we are. Obviously, we are really happy with David and everything he has brought to the club and the team, there is no question about it. But, those decisions are taken by all of us at the club and we will see."

Arteta said of his decision to sign Raya: “We wanted to get better in this position, to bring other qualities into a goalkeeping position. We understood the reaction, but if you want to get better you have to elevate the level and make the decision!”

In a recent interview with OK Diario, Raya said of Arteta: “Mikel is a specialist. It’s very difficult to describe him. He is very meticulous, very inteligent and he knows how to manage the dressing room. he does the tactics and the game plans to perfection and he has demonstrated that in the years he has been with Arsenal. He has turned the club around 180 degrees.”