Brentford goalkeeper David Raya to join Arsenal on loan with an option to buy

Brentford goalkeeper David Raya is set to join Arsenal on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent, reports The Athletic.

The Gunners will part with £3 million to sign the 27-year-old Spain international on loan and signing him permanently next summer will cost an additional £27m.

Raya, 27, is entering the final 12 months of his contract with the Bees but will extend it ahead of his move to Arsenal.

The Spaniard bid farewell to staff at Brentford’s Jersey Road training ground on Wednesday, with his medical with the North London club expected to take place tomorrow.

The 27-year-old will move to Arsenal to challenge current No 1 Aaron Ramsdale for a place in the starting XI.

Matt Turner has left the club to join Nottingham Forest, and Raya will move to North London as his replacement.

Ramsdale had a drop-off in form last season and some of his errors proved costly in the end, although they had no bearing on the title race.

However, the Gunners believe adding Raya to their squad will help keep the Englishman on his toes given the huge quality he brings to the table.

Bayern Munich were also interested in the Brentford goalkeeper but he has chosen Arsenal, with a reunion with his former goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana on the cards at the North London club.

Raya will fancy his chances of pipping Ramsdale to the starting berth, and it will be interesting to see how the battle between the duo goes.

The Gunners could decide against signing the Spaniard permanently if he does not impress enough, and signing him on a loan deal before committing £27m to a permanent move makes a lot of sense.