David Raya

David Raya is a Spanish goalkeeper who helps shape attacks as well as defend the goal. He can hold the ball to draw opponents forward, then pass through the pressure or send a longer delivery beyond it. He also comes off his line assertively to claim crosses.

Born in Barcelona on 15 September 1995, he developed at UE Cornellà before joining Blackburn Rovers’ academy. His early football included futsal near his childhood home in Pallejà, while a loan at Southport in 2014/15 introduced him to senior football in England’s fifth tier.

Raya made his Blackburn debut during that same season and became first choice in their 2017/18 League One campaign. He joined Brentford in July 2019, experienced defeat in the following year’s Championship play-off final, then helped them beat Swansea City at Wembley to secure Premier League promotion in 2021.

Arsenal brought him in on loan in August 2023 and made the move permanent in July 2024. His 16 Premier League clean sheets in 2023/24 earned his first Golden Glove, recognising a season in which the team finished runners-up.

In 2025/26, he won a third consecutive Golden Glove with 19 clean sheets as Arsenal became Premier League champions. The middle award, for 2024/25, had been shared with Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels.

That 2025/26 season also brought a Champions League final. Raya saved Nuno Mendes’s effort in the shootout against Paris Saint-Germain, but Arsenal lost on penalties after a 1–1 draw in Budapest.

His Spain debut came against Albania on 26 March 2022. He later belonged to the squads that won EURO 2024 and the 2026 World Cup. Unai Simón started both finals, with Raya among the unused substitutes: his international honours reflect a squad role rather than appearances in those deciding matches.

Latest stats & form

David Raya currently plays for Arsenal as a goalkeeper. He has represented Spain internationally.

Statistics cover recorded official matches.