Arteta jokes Raya can play in Spain 'on the beach' after La Liga remark
David Raya has revealed he would love to test himself in La Liga one day, but Mikel Arteta has made clear the Spaniard's immediate future lies at Arsenal.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, Raya was asked whether he had ambitions to play in his homeland having spent his entire professional career in England. His answer left little doubt over his long term curiosity about a return to Spanish football.
The Friday Injury Tracker
Who's out, who's back and what it means for the next two games.
"Yes, I would love to. I would love to try out La Liga," Raya said. "For now, I'm very happy here [at Arsenal], but I would certainly like to experience the Spanish league. I think it's a very competitive league. Perhaps, in the future, I could play for a Spanish club. I'm Spanish and I'd love to play there, that's for sure."
Arteta was asked for his reaction and offered a light hearted but pointed response, making clear Raya's priority remains north London for the foreseeable future.
"I think David has to play in Spain at some point, on the beach with his friends in the summer but for the next few years he needs to play here for Arsenal," Arteta said.
Raya's rise since joining Arsenal
Born in Catalonia, Raya moved to England as a 16 year old on scholarship terms with Blackburn Rovers, going on to make 98 first team appearances for the club after a loan spell in Non-League with Southport. He joined Brentford in 2019 before completing a £27million move to Arsenal, initially on loan before it became permanent.
Since establishing himself as Arsenal's first choice goalkeeper ahead of Aaron Ramsdale, Raya has become a key figure under Arteta, helping the club win their first Premier League title in 22 years last season and reach the Champions League final in Budapest. He is under contract at Arsenal until 2028.
His form has also earned individual recognition. Raya is nominated for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper in the world, and is expected to attend Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in London. He was also part of Spain's World Cup winning squad in North America, though he did not feature on the pitch.
Crediting his coaching roots
Speaking separately to the Beyond The Box Podcast, Raya paid tribute to former Blackburn goalkeeping coach John Keeley for shaping his career in its early stages.
"I don't know what, but he saw something in me since the first day," Raya said. "He took me to Portugal with the first team when I was 17, for no reason. I think he saw something in me that not all the people saw. He put a lot of work into me, and he was one of the reasons I went on loan, why I made my debut, why I started the following season as number one. He believed in me and I always have a lot to thank him for. Without him, I don't think I would have made my debut."
For now, Raya's focus remains firmly on Arsenal, with any potential move to La Liga a conversation for another day.
