The Gunners look set to sign the Spanish international from Brentford and could have him in the squad for their Premier League opener with Nottingham Forest if he’s registered in time.
It’s been a busy summer already for Arsenal. The Gunners have bɾօυɢҺt in Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber for a combined fee north of £200million. Meanwhile Granit Xhaka, Pablo Mari and Auston Trusty have all left the club on a permanent basis. It looks as though the business won’t be stopping there though.
Matt Turner officially joined Nottingham Forest on Wednesday morningfor a feefootball.londonunderstands to be £10million in total. The American international’s exit should pave the way for David Raya to join from Brentford.
football.londonunderstands that Arsenal have agreed a fee with the Bees worth around £30million including add ons. It marks a smart piece of business from the Gunners who have been able to significantly upgrade a position in the squad for a net spєɴԀ of around £20million.
Questions now have begun to emerge over what role Raya will have in the squad. Just as was the case when Aaron Ramsdale joined from Sheffield United, Arsenal have made no promises to Raya that he will instantly become number one. It looks as though he and Ramsdale will battle it out for the spot across the coming season.
We could get a good indication of Mikel Arteta’s ρłɑɴs for the position when the Gunners take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday lunchtime. If Arsenal want Raya in the squad for their Premier League opener though, they will need to get a move on.
The league rules on when players must registered by in order to play are as follows:
“Subject to the provisions of Rule V.1, the deadline for receipt by the Board of all duly completed documents required by these Rules to effect the registration of a Player shall be 12 noon on the last Working Day before the date of the first League Match in which the Club making the application intєɴԀs him to play, save that the international transfer certificate and evidence of eligibility to take up employment in the United Kingdom (in both cases if applicable) may be provided thereafter (but must be provided before the Player is eligible to play for a Club in a League Match).”
This means that if Arsenal want to include Raya in their matchday squad for Forest, then they must have completed the Ԁєɑł by 12pm on Friday, August 11. Any later and the Spaniard could have to wait until their next match against Crystal Palace to potentially make his debut. Should Raya be unavailable for this Saturday’s match at the Emirates Stadium, then it is likely that his position on the bench would be taken by Karl Hein rather than Runar Alex Runarsson.
