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"Ideal option" Ramsdale takes Arsenal summer spending to €150m

Arsenal's summer spending has surpassed €150million with the signing of Sheffield United goalke...



Soccer

"Ideal option" Ramsdale takes Arsenal summer spending to €150m

Arsenal's summer spending has surpassed €150million with the signing of Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. 

The 23-year old has cost the Gunners an initial £24million (€28m) with a potential £6million (€7m) in add-ons to follow.

Ramsdale is Arsenal's second signing of the day, following the €40m capture of Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid.

It's believed Ramsdale has signed a four-year deal at the Emirates with the option of a fifth.

His acquisition continues a summer of heavy investment by manager Mikel Arteta.

Already in the door have come Ben White from Brighton for €59million, and highly-rated midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht for the comparatively cheap €17.5million.

Ramsdale played every game of Sheffield United's ill-fated second season in the Premier League. They finished bottom of the table, conceding 63 goals in the process.

It was Ramsdale's second consecutive relegation. Prior to his £18.5million move to Bramall Lane, he'd played all-but one of Bournemouth's games in the 2019-20 campaign, as they were relegated to the Championship.

An injury to Manchester United's Dean Henderson saw Ramsdale sneak into Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2020, but he's yet to make a senior international appearance.

Arsenal hope to have him available for Sunday's Premier League meeting with Chelsea.

Mikel Arteta would not say if Ramsdale will immediately jump Bernd Leno in the pecking order, but is rather happy to have competition for the place between the posts.

"Well it’s what we want," the manager said, "It’s what has always been the case at this football club.

"It’s nothing new. We’re going to have two different profiles, two different stages in their careers.

"Aaron is a really talented young goalkeeper with huge already experience and international for England.

"He’s going to bring competition which is what we want to create competition, healthy competition, quality competition.

"We needed a goalkeeper there and we ended with Aaron as the ideal option."

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Aaron Ramsdale Albert Sambi Lokonga Arsenal Ben White Martin Odegaard Mikel Arteta Sheffield United