Before the 2023-24 season, Ramsdale had been Arsenal's main goalkeeper for two years, having joined the club in a £30 million deal from Sheffield United in 2021. Some Arsenal fans were skeptical of his signing due to his past experiences with teams like Sheffield United and Bournemouth. However, Ramsdale quickly won over the Arsenal supporters with a series of outstanding performances.
Ramsdale's strong footwork and distribution skills led to him becoming Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper, ahead of Bernd Leno. He played a significant role in helping Arsenal qualify for the Europa League in the 2022-23 season and contributed to their unexpected title challenge. While Arsenal narrowly missed out on winning the league, Ramsdale played a crucial part in their return to the Champions League after a seven-year absence.
Despite competition from Matt Turner, Ramsdale remained the preferred choice in goal. However, Arsenal surprised many by signing David Raya during the summer, who is currently on loan from Brentford with an option to buy. It is expected that Arsenal will activate the £27 million purchase clause next summer.
Ramsdale lost his starting position to Raya in Arsenal's recent match against Everton, which they won 1-0. Raya performed well, leading to suggestions that he could become Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper going forward. Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, has indicated that he plans to rotate between Ramsdale and Raya during the season, with Ramsdale still having an important role to play.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are now interested in Ramsdale's uncertain situation. Ramsdale signed an extension with Arsenal until 2026 in May, with an option for an additional year. Therefore, Arsenal would likely demand a substantial fee if any club wants to sign him. The report suggests that Arsenal is likely to reject offers for Ramsdale in January, but significant offers close to £60 million in the summer could lead to discussions.
Since joining Arsenal in 2021, Ramsdale has kept 30 clean sheets in 83 games, including 14 shutouts in the 2022-23 Premier League season, earning him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Chelsea signed two new goalkeepers, Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic, this summer and loaned Gabriel Slonina to Eupen. However, they are still open to adding another goalkeeper to their squad. Bayern Munich, on the other hand, saw Yann Sommer leave for Inter Milan in the recent transfer window and are preparing for the future after 37-year-old Manuel Neuer, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
