Arsenal goalkeeper posts farewell ahead of release

Arsenal goalkeeper James Hillson has posted a farewell message to the club ahead of his official release at the end of June.

23-year-old Arsenal goalkeeper James Hillson will officially leave the club on Sunday, with the Gunners previously confirming that he’s on their list of players whose contracts will end this summer.

With his five-year spell in north London now almost over, the goalkeeper has shared a farewell on Instagram.

“Thank you to everyone at Arsenal, including the coaching staff, players and everyone in between for making my last 5 years such a great experience,” Hillson wrote.

“I’m excited to see where my next journey takes me.”

Hillson never made a first-team appearance for Arsenal, but he was clearly popular at the club.

Aaron Ramsdale responded to the post to say “Good luck, ledge” and David Raya wrote “All the best, mate”, with Gunners legend David Seaman replying “Good luck, pinger!!!”.

Those responses were hidden amongst many replies from Hillson’s youth teammates, all wishing him the best.

Hillson joined Arsenal from Reading in 2019, initially playing his football for the Gunners’ u18 side before stepping up to the u21s.

Despite never playing for Mikel Arteta’s senior side, Hillson was named in the first-team squad four times, and on many other occasions he was involved in training or travelling to matches as the third-choice emergency goalkeeper.

The goalkeeper also spent time with Salisbury on loan earlier in his career.