Fabrizio Romano reveals Arsenal’s failed summer pursuit as star chose Spanish club

Arsenal have been keeping tabs on goalkeeper Joan Garcia for quite a while.

The club wanted him as a replacement for Aaron Ramsdale, and Edu Gaspar did make an effort to bring him in.

Bids were made, but Espanyol’s asking price was ultimately more than Arsenal were willing to pay.

Though Edu ultimately signed Neto on loan, the Gunners had aimed to bring Garcia to the Emirates before the current season began.

Fabrizio Romano has since provided some insight into how things unfolded.

“They attempted, one of the players, for example, they wanted to sign at Arsenal, he was a target already in 2024, and that was not possible to complete the deal in the final days of the window, and again this summer, at the beginning of the transfer window,” said the journalist on his podcast Here We Go.

“Because Arsenal saw a value in this player. For €25 million release clause to sign from Espanyol, it was seen as a big opportunity.

“He’s a goalkeeper worth, in the real market – that’s my opinion, not official – but maybe, I don’t know, €40-50-60 million euros, and to get him for €25 million was a big opportunity.

“Arsenal tried, but the player was in very advanced talks with Barcelona.”

What Arsenal had in mind for Joan Garcia

David Raya is the clear first-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal, and he has been outstanding since taking over.

With that position settled, the club were only looking to bring in a reliable backup during the summer. Kepa Arrizabalaga joined from Chelsea for £5 million, which was seen as smart business.

Arsenal saw Garcia as a player with potential, but they did not plan to use him right away. Instead, according to Romano, the idea was to sign him and immediately loan him out.

He explained: “Arsenal absolutely trusted David Raya. So to sign Joan Garcia was probably going to mean sending him on loan to another club, not signing him to be the starting goalkeeper immediately.

“For Barcelona, obviously, it was different. Joan Garcia was a starter (and would remain) in the same city, in the same league… a Spanish player.

“And so for Barca, the deal was easier.”