Arsenal are interested in signing Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The Gunners are scouring the market for a new goalkeeper after having expectations that Aaron Ramsdale will leave this summer. Premier League clubs have been circling for Ramsdale, but there has been hardly any movement thus far with the English shot-stopper away with the national team at the 2024 Euro.
As a result, the North London side have prepared a list of potential replacements for Ramsdale, who became the club’s No.2 last season after the acquisition of David Raya from Brentford on loan. Espanyol star Joan Garcia is reportedly high on Arsenal’s shortlist, as Mikel Arteta looks to reinforce his goalkeeping department.
Garcia, 23, is tied up to Espanyol until the summer of 2028, with his contract containing a €25m release clause. It took a while for the 23-year-old to break into Espanyol’s senior side, only making his league debut at the start of March. However, he didn’t look back since then and went onto 14 appearances last season, keeping eight clean sheets and conceding just seven times in the process. The Spaniard helped Espanyol earn promotion to La Liga via play-offs, leading to his rise in stock.
Off the back of his impressive displays in goal for the Catalan side, Garcia has been called up to the Spanish national team for the Olympic games in Paris.
Arsenal completed permanent signing of David Raya from Brentford
Arsenal have secured the permanent signing of David Raya in a £27 million deal from Brentford, after initially paying £3 million for his services on loan last season. The Spaniard, who replaced Ramsdale as the club’s No.1, bagged the Premier League Golden Glove award in his debut campaign at the Emirates Stadium. He kept 16 clean sheets in 32 league games, impressing with his shot-stopping, reflexes, command in the air and reading of the game.
“After a year on loan as a Gunner, I can finally say that I’m an Arsenal player for the coming years. I’m excited to see what the future holds but always living in and enjoying the present,” Raya told Arsenal’s official website.
“It’s a dream come true to be here and I want to thank you for all the support you have already given me throughout the last year.”
Joan Garcia could be a smart option to compete with Raya at Arsenal
Ramsdale’s departure from the Gunners appears likely after he lost his place in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI last season. Plans are already in place to replace the England international, with Joan Garcia at the top of the list of targets.
Standing at a towering 6ft 3ins tall, Garcia excelled with his claiming of his crosses, shot stopping and authority in the box. At 23, he is still very young for a goalkeeper and would be a smart option to cover and compete with Raya. Even though he has shown glimpses of his quality in goal for Espanyol, Arsenal view the Spaniard as the ideal candidate to fill in for Ramsdale when he eventually departs
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
