Southampton has announced the £25 million signing of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal.
The deal, which includes an initial £18 million payment and £7 million in potential add-ons, brings the 26-year-old goalkeeper to St Mary’s on a four-year contract, with the option to extend for an additional 12 months.
Ramsdale’s unveiling was as memorable as it was unique, as he appeared dressed as Hagrid from the Harry Potter movies.
Southampton announced Ramsdale’s arrival on X with a playful nod to Hagrid’s famous line from the movies: “Yer a Saint, @AaronRamsdale98,” followed by another post calling him the “Wizard of the window.”
Reflecting on his unique fancy dress choice, Ramsdale explained: “A group of my friends, we all play football and there’s a couple of lads who don’t.
We’ve been twice before to watch our friend Harvey Gilmore play for Tranmere and Halifax. Both times we’ve done fancy dress.”
After joining Arsenal from Sheffield United in 2021 for £26 million, Ramsdale made 89 appearances and became a fan favourite.
However, last season, he lost his position as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper to David Raya, limiting his game time to just 11 appearances in all competitions.
Ramsdale expressed his excitement about joining Southampton, saying: “I’m absolutely delighted.
The way the manager wants to play, the way he was when I spoke to him, he was just full of so much enthusiasm.
I’d never met him before but he made me feel about eight feet tall, which is just what you want.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his gratitude to Ramsdale: “Firstly, I want to say thank you so much [to Ramsdale] for what he has done for the club, for the team, for myself. we are all happy for him.”
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