Sports

Arsenal sign David Raya permanently for £27m after successful loan spell

Arsenal have completed the permanent signing of goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford on a long-term deal.

The Gunners have paid £27m for the Spain international, on top of the £3m fee they paid the Bees to take Raya on loan last season.

Raya told Arsenal’s website: “After a year on loan as a Gunner, I can finally say that I’m an Arsenal player for the coming years. 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.”

Raya won the Premier League Golden Glove in his debut campaign with Arsenal, keeping 16 clean sheets in the Premier League and 20 in total across 41 appearances.

The 28-year-old helped Arsenal to a runners-up finish in the Premier League and a run to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Raya, who is currently at Euro 2024 with Spain, previously spent four years with Brentford, where he moved after leaving Blackburn.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who promoted Raya to No1 goalkeeper ahead of Aaron Ramsdale, said: “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.”

Edu, Arsenal’s sporting director, added: “We are so happy to have completed the deal to sign David from Brentford. He had a beautiful first season with us.

“He is a talented international, a great professional, and a popular figure at the club. We benefited from all of this last season during his loan with us.

“David’s signing is another strong example of our recruitment strategy in action, as we continue to build a team that will challenge for major trophies.

“We know there’s so much more to come from him and we are excited that he will continue to be a big part of the journey we are all on.”

Sports

CAF Awards 2024: Super Eagles, Super Falcons nominated for National Team Of the Year

The Super Eagles and Super Falcons have been nominated for the Men’s and Women’s National Team of the Year at the 2024 CAF Awards.

The two teams made the final shortlist in each of the category.

The Super Eagles made it to the final at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations earlier in the year.

African champions Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and Bafana Bafana of South Africa are also nominated for the award.

Meanwhile, the Super Falcons featured at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France but failed to make it beyond the group stage in the women’s football event.

Banyana Banyana of South Africa and Atlas Lionesses of Morocco are the other teams in contention for the Women’s National Team of the Year.

The award ceremony will hold in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday, December 16.

Sports

Manchester City stutter again, draw 2-2 at Crystal Palace

Premier League Fixtures Postponed Following Queen’s Death

Manchester City’s Premier League title defence stuttered again with a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

City twice came from behind to pick a point at Selhurst Park, but the champions have now won only once in six league games – four of which have been lost.

Palace led through full back Daniel Munoz’s fourth-minute goal before Erling Haaland headed City level.

Maxence Lacroix restored Palace’s lead after the break and Rico Lewis fired a fine 68th-minute leveller for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Lewis was later sent off six minutes from time for two bookings.

City are now eight points behind leaders Liverpool, having played a game more than Arne Slot’s side.

Liverpool’s derby at Everton was postponed due to a storm.

Sports

CAF President conveys condolences to the victims of Guinea stadium tragedy

The Confédération of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe has conveyed condolences to the victims of the Guinea stadium tragedy.

According to a press release by CAF, Dr. Motsepe is deeply saddened by the stadium stampede that claimed the lives of over 50 football fans and left others injured during a football match at the Stade du 3 Avril in N’Zérékoré.

The tragedy occurred during a friendly football tournament between the city of N’Zérékoré and the city of Labe.

CAF President Dr Motsepe conveys his and CAF’s deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, the Fédération Guinéenne de Football (FGF) Leadership and the people of Guinea.

Dr Motsepe also wished a speedy recovery to the injured football fans.
(Sports village square)