Aaron Ramsdale has departed Arsenal to join Premier League rivals Southampton in a permanent transfer.
The England goalkeeper has signed a four-year contract at St Mary’s, and talkSPORT understands the deal with worth an initial £18million fee, rising to £25m if Saints stay up this season.
And he is expected to immediately become Southampton’s new No.1 and could even be registered in time to face Brentford on Saturday.
Saints boss Russell Martin says his arrival will be a huge boost for the team, although admits he ‘feels for Alex McCarthy’, the club’s promotion hero who appears to have lost his spot between the sticks.
“If you’d have asked me four or five weeks ago, would we have had a chance of signing Aaron Ramsdale, I would have thought you were probably crazy,” said Martin in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“We spoke a fair bit over that period of time, I pestered him a little bit, and even a week ago I’d have probably thought, you know, it’s not achievable, but it’s worth trying still.
“Some of the guys might be surprised that he’s coming and a big arrival like this will give everyone a lift – but there’ll be one guy who probably won’t be happy about it, which is Alex.
“Alex has been amazing for us. If he hadn’t come in the team and did what he did last season, we don’t get promoted. Without Alex we’re not in the Premier League, so I’ll be forever grateful to him.
“I know it’d be cool if we get Aaron done in time for tomorrow’s game, and whilst I’m really happy that Aaron’s coming in and really happy with the group we have and excited about that signing, I really feel for Alex.”
Ramsdale says he is ‘delighted’ at the move, with Martin admitting the goalkeeper was left ‘frustrated’ last season having spent most of the campaign on Arsenal’s bench.
The glovesman was strongly linked with an Arsenal exit this summer having lost his No.1 shirt to David Raya last term, whose initial loan move from Brentford was triggered into a permanent transfer at the start of this window.
A loan exit had been widely discussed, with plenty of clubs in England and across Europe interested, but Southampton were ready to splash the cash to land the goalkeeper outright.
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The 26-year-old was desperate to play regular football again after making only 11 appearances last season in all competitions, and it appears he’ll get his wish in a Southampton shirt.
“He wants to be here, which is so important,” added Martin. “He’s seen the way we played, he’s watched the first couple of games and I think he admires the courage of the players. I think he knows he has a chance to express himself and to come in and show everyone what a good goalkeeper is.
“I think he’s been frustrated over the last year of the lack of playing time, but he brings winning mentality, brings big character, he brings big voice, and we’re quite a quiet group in terms of the players because we’re a young group.
“So he brings experience and attitude and winning mentality. I think he’s going to be great.”
The initial £18m deal represents a bit of a climb down from Arsenal, who were looking to ship Ramsdale out on loan with an obligation to buy for as much as £30m this summer.
Ramsdale joined the Gunners from Sheffield United for the same £30m figure in the summer of 2021.
But with hours to go until the window slams shut, they have accepted a lower offer to allow the goalkeeper to depart for more regular first-team football – although that fee will rise to £25m should Southampton avoid relegation.
Several clubs registered an interest in the 26-year-old, with Wolves, Bournemouth and Dutch giants Ajax all having their approaches rejected by Arsenal.
Saints then entered the race after issues with a medical halted their move for Feyenoord No.1 Justin Bijlow, and quickly got a deal done for Ramsdale to boost their hopes of Premier League safety.
Last season’s Championship play-off final winners sit 16th in the top flight table after starting the new campaign with two straight defeats to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
Ramsdale will leave Arsenal after making 89 appearances in all competitions in a Gunners shirt, helping the club lift the Community Shield in 2023.
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His £30m arrival raised a lot of eyebrows at the time, but the young goalkeeper – 23-year-old when he signed – quickly won over his doubters with some impressive performances between the sticks, earning praise for his reaction saves and acrobatic stops.
He also won over fans with his penchant for s***housing opponents, especially opposing supporters sat behind his goal, as well as his passionate celebrations from the other end of the pitch as he watched his teammates score.
However, the youngster also developed a reputation for a lack of concentration in key moments, which led to a number of big blunders and saw Mikel Arteta ultimately put his trust in another.
