What happened to the £24m keeper Arteta once called exceptional?

Credit: Getty Images

Three years ago Aaron Ramsdale was named in the PFA Team of the Year as Arsenal pushed Manchester City all the way in a title race. Today he is a fourth-choice goalkeeper in the Championship who has not played a competitive match in five months.

Ramsdale arrived at the Emirates in the summer of 2021 in a deal worth £24million plus £6m in add-ons, a fee widely questioned at the time given he had suffered successive Premier League relegations. Mikel Arteta backed the move publicly, saying: "I think the fans are going to love his personality, his character."

He was right, at least initially. Ramsdale displaced Bernd Leno, helped Arsenal finish fifth in his debut campaign and became a central figure in the 2022/23 title challenge before signing a new contract in May 2023.

"The way Aaron has developed over the past two years has been exceptional," Arteta said at the time, adding that supporters could enjoy "many more years of Aaron the player and the person".

The Raya switch

Months later, David Raya arrived from Brentford. Arsenal had tracked the Spaniard since 2020, with goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana a key advocate after working with him at Brentford.

The numbers behind the decision were stark. In his first few months Raya posted a pass completion rate of 79.7% compared to Ramsdale's 66.5%, and completed 48.4% of his long passes against Ramsdale's 30.4%. Raya has since won three consecutive Golden Gloves and started in Arsenal's title-winning campaign last season.

Ramsdale never publicly complained. "I tried my best to change his mind and force my way back in," he said of Arteta. "His mind was set and at the same time David had a great season. You can have all the upset or qualms about being taken out but when someone else is delivering, you've just got to take it on the chin."

Southampton, Newcastle and the wilderness

Southampton paid an initial £18m, potentially rising to £25m, in 2024. Ramsdale made 30 league appearances for a side that finished bottom with 12 points — the second-lowest tally in Premier League history — and conceded 66 goals, more than any other keeper that season.

A loan to Newcastle followed for 2025/26. Nick Pope began the campaign as first choice and Ramsdale only found rhythm through a mix of Pope's form and injury. He kept two clean sheets in 23 appearances across all competitions, started just 12 league games, and shipped seven in the 7-2 Champions League last-16 defeat to Barcelona. Newcastle declined the option to buy.

Back at St Mary's, he found Daniel Peretz established under head coach Tonda Eckert, with George Long and Jamie Jones ahead of him too. Ramsdale has not made a single matchday squad in Southampton's opening 10 games.

"We've had honest conversations from the first day of pre-season until the very last day of the transfer window," Eckert told BBC Radio Solent. "The expectations for him are clear to support the team in the best way and he's been very professional in doing that so far."

According to football.london, Ramsdale turned down opportunities to leave in the summer, both in England and abroad, with his young family settled on the south coast. He is said to retain a good relationship with Eckert and intends to fight for his place until January.

The 28-year-old's situation is expected to become clearer once the winter window opens.