David Raya is happy at Arsenal, but he has not ruled out going home. The Spain goalkeeper told Marca he would love to try La Liga at some stage, a comment that lands awkwardly for Arsenal on the eve of a Champions League trip to Bayern Munich.
What Raya Actually Said
"Yes, I would love to. I would love to try out La Liga," Raya said. "For now, I'm very happy here, but I would certainly like to experience the Spanish league." He called it a very competitive league and added that he could play for a Spanish club in the future. The Barcelona-born keeper joined Arsenal from Brentford in 2023 and has a contract that runs until the summer of 2028, so there is no urgency about any of it.
A Season to Be Proud Of
Raya did not sound like a man looking for the exit. He called the past year "perfect", with the only gap being that he did not play at the World Cup. He was in the Spain squad that lifted the trophy but did not get on the pitch. At club level, he helped Arsenal win the Premier League and the Community Shield, and the team reached the finals of both the Champions League and the Carabao Cup. He also collected a third consecutive Golden Glove.
The numbers back him up. Goal.com puts him on 114 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, with 52 clean sheets and 89 goals conceded. He described last season as his best as a professional, saying he was "impactful and lifting trophies."
Eyes on Bayern and the Table
For now his focus is on this campaign. Arsenal are second in the Premier League on 18 points, three behind Manchester City, and have started the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Napoli and a 3-0 win against Lille. Bayern Munich away on Wednesday is the toughest test yet. "I want to win it all," Raya said. "We want to establish ourselves as favourites, and that is our goal."
A move to Spain, if it ever happens, looks a long way off. Arsenal hold the leverage with the contract, and a keeper who is winning Golden Gloves rarely has to ask to leave. Raya's comments read more like an honest answer to an interviewer than a hint to a suitor, but Spanish clubs will have noted them all the same.
Transfer context: David Raya, Spain goalkeeper, Arsenal. Joined from Brentford in 2023; contract to summer 2028. 114 Arsenal appearances, 52 clean sheets, 89 goals conceded (per Goal.com). Third straight Premier League Golden Glove. Arsenal: second in the table, 18 points. Next: Bayern Munich v Arsenal, Wednesday 21 October, 20:00 BST.
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