90min

Arsenal agree transfer for prodigious Ajax goalkeeper - report

  • Arsenal have agreed a €1m plus add-ons fee with Ajax for 18-year-old goalkeeper Tommy Setford
  • Youngster expected to sign a four-year contract in north London
  • Gunners made David Raya move permanent earlier this summer

By Jude Summerfield

Arsenal are bringing in a new young goalie
Arsenal are bringing in a new young goalie / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
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Arsenal have reached an agreement with Dutch giants Ajax for the transfer of young goalkeeper Tommy Setford, according to a report.

The Gunners have been linked with a number of shot-stoppers during the summer transfer window, with the future of reserve option Aaron Ramsdale in doubt after David Raya took his place in the starting XI.

The Athletic report that a fee of €1m plus add-ons has been agreed between Arsenal and Ajax, with Setford expected to pen a four-year contract at the Emirates Stadium.

The 18-year-old rose through Ajax's ranks playing for a number of their age group teams and the Eredivisie side were keen for him to stay.

Setford has played for England's Under-16s, Under-17s, Under-18s and Under-19s and is expected to slot into Arsenal's academy upon his arrival.

Tommy Setford
England youth international Setford is set to join Arsenal / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages

The north Londoners previously reached out to Wolves in an attempt to strike a deal for Dan Bentley but saw their £50,000 bid knocked back by the Premier League side.

The 30-year-old would have been brought in as a third-choice option rather than Ramsdale's replacement, though speculation continues to surround the future of the former Sheffield United and Bournemouth goalkeeper. Previous reports revealed that Mikel Arteta would pursue a move for Espanyol's Joan Garcia if Ramsdale was to move on.

Meanwhile, Raya saw his loan from Brentford turned into a permanent £27m deal earlier in July but Arsenal have moved slowly in the transfer window so far, with Arteta admitting new Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) have stunted their progress.

He said: "I think you can tell everything is a bit slower. I think the market and the new rules in place have caused that clubs are more aware and it’s a bit more delicate to do business in the way we've done in the last few seasons."

Arsenal had been linked with Everton midfielder Amadou Onana but the Belgium international is now set to join Aston Villa in a £50m deal with personal terms already finalised.

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