Arsenal have reportedly reached an agreement to sell their backup goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to Premier League rivals Southampton for a fee of £25 million.
Negotiations are ongoing regarding certain aspects of the transfer, but both clubs are optimistic that the deal will soon be finalized.
Ramsdale, who lost his starting spot at Arsenal to David Raya, has long been on the Gunners’ transfer list.
The club had previously informed Ramsdale that he could depart if a suitable offer came in, and Southampton’s interest appears to have provided the ideal opportunity.
Southampton turned their attention to Ramsdale after a proposed deal for Feyenoord’s goalkeeper Justin Bijlow fell through.
The Saints have agreed to an initial payment of £18 million, with potential add-ons that could see the total fee rise to £25 million, as reported by Sky Sports on Wednesday.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are already in the market for Ramsdale’s replacement. They have been linked with Wigan Athletic’s promising young goalkeeper Sam Tickle, and transfer guru Fabrizio Romano suggests that the Gunners might also make a move for Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.
The situation has not gone unnoticed by former Arsenal players. Emmanuel Petit, who played for Arsenal in the late 1990s, expressed his concern over Ramsdale’s lack of playing time.
Speaking to Safest Casino Sites, Petit said, “I would be missing playing football if I was Aaron Ramsdale. I’d miss the adrenaline, the excitement of a match day when you wake up. Aaron Ramsdale needs to leave, he needs to play. Football is not all about money, and you need to go enjoy the sport. He must be very unhappy; I hope he gets back on the pitch somewhere else.”
Similarly, Arsenal legend David Seaman shared his thoughts on Ramsdale’s situation.
In an interview with the Daily Star, Seaman said, “I’ve always said Aaron is too good to be a number two. He’s a fantastic player. He needs to play. Wherever that is, I don’t know. It’s a weird situation. Ideally, you’d love him to stay because that would be great for the club. But he needs to move for his career. And that includes England because, if he’s not playing, he’ll keep dropping down the pecking order with them.”
Ramsdale, who joined Arsenal from Sheffield United in 2021 for £24 million, has made 89 appearances for the club.
The 26-year-old has also been capped five times by England and previously played in the Premier League with AFC Bournemouth, where he was named the Supporters’ Player of the Year during his three-year tenure with the Cherries.
