Southampton have finalised a deal to buy Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for £25 million, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The 26-year-old is set to undergo a medical before officially joining the Saints after a long-running transfer saga.
Arsenal signed David Raya permanently this summer following his successful loan spell at the club last season, during which the Gunners conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League and kept the most clean sheets.
Raya has started the new campaign on fire for the North Londoners, keeping two shut-outs in their first two league fixtures.
The Spaniard is not giving Ramsdale a chance at sniffing a starting shirt, and the Englishman has had to reevaluate his options.
Southampton needed a new number one goalkeeper, and the South Coast club turned to Ramsdale.
Alex McCarthy has started their first two league matches of the season, but the club is keen to add depth and competition to the position.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, in particular, and Bournemouth had also expressed interest in signing Ramsdale from Arsenal. However, Southampton have emerged as the preferred destination for the former Sheffield United goalkeeper.
Ramsdale is set to become Southampton’s 12th summer signing. The Saints have added 11 new players to their squad so far. They have turned loan deals for Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes into permanent transfers.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have been slow out of the blocks in the transfer window, signing only Raya, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino.
However, they are now exploring the possibility of signing Joan Garcia from Espanyol as a replacement for Ramsdale.
The 23-year-old has been on the books of Espanyol since 2021, making 32 appearances in all competitions. Last season, he started 14 league games and kept eight clean sheets, helping his team earn promotion to La Liga. He has started two top-flight games this season.
Arsenal must also consider a late move for a centre-forward, with Eddie Nketiah set to join Crystal Palace and Gabriel Jesus’ famous profligacy in front of the goal. The Gunners need a striker that will spearhead their title challenge.
