Blackburn Rovers have officially landed a multi-million windfall after David Raya completed a permanent move to Arsenal.
The Spanish goalkeeper signed on loan with a reported £27m option for the Gunners to buy last summer. Raya quickly ousted Aaron Ramsdale as Mikel Arteta’s number one and won the Premier League Golden Glove award.
It was, therefore, a matter of when, rather than if, Arsenal would make the move permanent, thus netting Rovers a significant sell-on fee in the process.
Former Director of Football Gregg Broughton revealed last September that Rovers would receive in the region of £5m when the deal was completed. On top of the sale of Adam Wharton and the increased revenue generated from the new TV deal with Sky, Rovers may post a profit in their next accounting period.
“We know that if the deal goes through as both clubs intend it to, it will bring in £5million to Blackburn Rovers over the next few years,” he told The Lancashire Telegraph.
“That gives us relief with the Financial Fair Play rules, you have the improved TV deal, the club playing good football.
“Hopefully, we will receive additional TV money and cup tournament money if we succeed on the field. It ought to serve us well for the upcoming windows.
“The actual proportion is private, so I can’t reveal what it is. If I tell you that it will bring in about £5 million, you don’t need to be a math pro to figure it out.”
Raya and Arsenal have officially signed a long-term contract. After joining Brentford in 2019 and leaving Rovers to advance to the Emirates, it caps off a remarkable ascent.
“After a year on loan as a Gunner, I can finally say that I’m an Arsenal player for the coming years,” he said after signing.
“I’m excited to see what the future holds but always living in and enjoying the present.
“It’s a dream come true to be here and I want to thank you for all the support you have already given me throughout the last year.”
Manager Mikel Arteta added: “David showed us last season what an important player he is for us, so we are delighted he is now officially our player. He is a big presence in our dressing room and we are really pleased to keep working with him.
“We know he will take the strong foundations he put in place last season and build on them in the years to come, and that he will enjoy more success with us. We have a very talented group of goalkeepers and I love to see connections like the one I see in our goalkeeping unit.”
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