Aaron Ramsdale completes £24m Arsenal move

Arsenal announced a fifth signing in quick succession when the London club unveiled Aaron Ramsdale, late Friday evening, with the goalkeeper arriving on a long-term contract from Sheffield United.

On Thursday, the club had also announced the acquisition of 22-year old Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid

The 23-year old Englishman Ramsdale is expected to serve as back-up goalkeeper to the club’s number 1, the German Bernd Leno.

Both Leno and Ramsdale are their countries’ third choice national team goalkeepers.

A move initially looked dead in the water after Sheffield United refused to lower their £40m valuation having rejected two lower offers from the Gunners. However, Sheffield United returned to the negotiating table this week after the player made it clear he wanted the opportunity to move to the Emirates Stadium.

A deal was swiftly agreed between the two clubs and Ramsdale undertook his medical at London Colney on Thursday.

 All the formalities have now been completed and Arsenal announced Ramsdale’s arrival on Arsenal.com this evening.

The 23-year-old has signed a long-term contract as Arsenal have reportedly paid Sheffield United an initial £24m fee with a further £6m due if certain performance-based add-ons are achieved over the coming years.

Ramsdale will wear the No.32 shirt this season and the deal was registered in time for him to be available for Arsenal’s huge Premier League clash with Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Ramsdale played in all 38 Premier League games for the Blades last season as they were relegated to the Championship.

The South Yorkshire side finished bottom of the table after picking up just 23 points and conceding a worrying 63 goals.

However, United’s tally would have been much worse if it was not for Ramsdale, with the English stopper making 147 saves.

The goalkeeper’s efforts ensured they conceded fewer goals than West Brom (76), Southampton (68) and Crystal Palace (66).

Scoring goals was United’s biggest problem as they managed just 20 in the Prem, with champions Manchester City hitting 4 times as many (83).

Only West Brom star Sam Johnstone stopped more efforts than Ramsdale – 166 – and both goalkeepers were rewarded for their efforts.

Ramsdale and Johnstone were included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2020 as back-up to Everton ace Jordan Pickford.

And Arsenal’s newest talent produced five more saves than Emiliano Martinez, who the Gunners sold to Aston Villa for £20m last summer.

Statistics may not be everything as Ramsdale was called into action far more times than incumbent No1 Bernd Leno – but his impressive CV doesn’t stop there.

He won Sheff Utd’s Player of the Year award last term, 12 months after scooping the same accolade from the fans of former side Bournemouth.

And Ramdale’s stats look even more impressive when you consider how the Blades performed in their first game without him.