Phil Giles explains Brentford stance as Arsenal seal initial £3m loan move for David Raya

Spanish international will join Gunners for £27m next summer
Jonathan Gorrie15 August 2023

Brentford director of football Phil Giles does not expect to see David Raya back at the club despite the goalkeeper signing a new contract before joining Arsenal on loan.

The Spanish international had entered the final year of his contract at the Gtech Community Stadium and penned a two-year extension with the option of a third while sealing his move to the Gunners.

Arsenal are believed to be paying an initial £3m for the goalkeeper ahead of a permanent transfer worth £27m next summer.

The two clubs had been locked in talks for several days, with the Bees initially valuing the former Blackburn stopper at £40m.

An agreement worth a total £30m, however, has been reached as Raya heads to north London to compete with Aaron Ramsdale for the No.1 spot at the Emirates Stadium.

Explaining the deal, Giles told Brentford’s official website: "I’m sure the first question that all Brentford fans will ask is why this transfer has been structured as an initial loan with Arsenal having the option to make it permanent in the future.

“The answer to that is simply that it enables this deal to be done more rapidly between both clubs, with all parties wanting to make this a permanent transfer as soon as practically possible, whenever that might be.

“David’s contract extension is a fall-back position in the event that the transfer is not made permanent. I’m not expecting to see David back at Brentford, although if ever that happened then of course the opportunity to work with such a high-class goalkeeper for up to two more years would in many ways be an unexpected bonus for us.”

Brentford’s opening Premier League game saw them draw 2-2 with Tottenham on Sunday, as they prepare to contest the west London derby away at rivals Fulham on Saturday.

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