It has been a frustrating time for Aaron Ramsdale. The goalkeeper played the first four Premier League games of the 23/24 season, but was then dropped for David Raya after arriving from Brentford. The only two games he played after that were both fixtures against Brentford, as Raya was ineligible to play his parent club. In the second game, he made a huge error leading to a goal.
He was not included in Lee Carsley's first squad as interim manager of England, which compounded the need for him to move for the sake of his career. Ramsdale was at Wembley for Southampton's play-off final success against Leeds in May, watching his close friend David Brooks play. Sometimes life comes full circle.
Southampton sign Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal
The goalkeeper has officially signed a four-year contract at Southampton. Ramsdale returns to the South Coast, having spent a few years at Bournemouth earlier in his career, before moving initially to Sheffield United and then Arsenal.
Southampton have been looking for a goalkeeper all summer, and that was emphasised when a mistake from Alex McCarthy cost them a point at Newcastle United on the opening day.
They had tried for Justin BIjlow from Feyenoord, but a deal broke down after the Dutch goalkeeper seemed to fail his medical.
Arsenal have quickly moved to replace Ramsdale, bringing in Neto from Bournemouth as cover for number one David Raya.
It feels like a good move for Ramsdale, where he can play every week and look to get back into the England set up. He is very unlikely to supersede long-term number one Jordan Pickford, but as mentioned above, was not even in the latest squad, so that will be something that he will want to change as soon as possible.
He could be in line to make his debut against Brentford on Saturday, kick off 15:00 BST. It would be three Premier League games in a row against the Bees for the 26-year old goalkeeper.