Explaining why Arsenal’s move for Joan Garcia broke down

Arsenal‘s pursuit of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia ultimately fell through despite the club’s clear intention to secure his services before the close of the transfer window.

While Arsenal had an agreement with the player himself, the deal collapsed due to the North London club’s refusal to meet Espanyol’s strict financial demands, leading Arsenal to pivot and secure Neto on loan from Bournemouth instead.

Arsenal had identified Joan Garcia as a key target to strengthen their goalkeeping options, particularly with the sale of Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton.

Ramsdale, who had been Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, was sold for £18 million, with potential add-ons raising the total fee to £25 million. This left Arsenal with a pressing need to find a reliable backup for David Raya, who would now assume the starting role.

Despite being only 23 years old, Garcia had impressed with his performances at Espanyol, catching the attention of Arsenal’s scouting team.

The Gunners moved quickly, making a formal bid of €20 million (approximately £16.8 million), including add-ons.

However, this offer fell short of Espanyol’s demands. The Spanish club remained adamant that Garcia would not be sold for anything less than his €30 million (£25.2 million) release clause, a price Arsenal was unwilling to meet.

Arsenal’s bid, while substantial, was not enough to trigger Garcia’s release clause. Espanyol, recognising Garcia’s value and potential, stood firm on their position, refusing to negotiate a lower fee.

This left Arsenal in a difficult position as the transfer window neared its close. Despite agreeing on personal terms with Garcia, the North London club faced an impasse that could not be overcome.

In the final hours of the window, Arsenal made one last push to sign Garcia, but Espanyol’s stance did not waver. Realising that time was running out, Arsenal turned their attention to alternative options to ensure they had adequate cover for the goalkeeper position.

With the Garcia deal falling through, Arsenal moved quickly to secure a loan deal for Neto from Bournemouth. According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal had kept the Neto option on standby, ready to finalise the move if the Garcia transfer collapsed.

Once it became clear that Espanyol would not budge on their demands, Arsenal activated their backup plan, signing the experienced Brazilian goalkeeper on loan.

Neto, 35, brings a wealth of experience to Arsenal, having previously played for top clubs such as Barcelona, Juventus, and Valencia.

He had made 63 appearances for Bournemouth before joining Arsenal. Although the loan deal does not include an option or obligation to buy, Neto’s arrival provides Arsenal with a dependable backup for Raya for the remainder of the season.

Other goalkeeper moves at Arsenal

This transfer window has seen significant changes in Arsenal’s goalkeeping department.

With Aaron Ramsdale joining Southampton, and Karl Hein moving on loan to Real Valladolid, the Gunners were left needing reinforcements.

Arsenal’s initial plan to secure Joan Garcia as Ramsdale’s replacement was part of a broader strategy to build depth and quality in their goalkeeping ranks.

In addition to pursuing Garcia, Arsenal also made a late enquiry for Wolves’ Dan Bentley.

However, this move also failed to materialise as Wolves were unwilling to let Bentley leave without securing a replacement. This further narrowed Arsenal’s options, leaving the club with limited time to finalise their goalkeeping plans.

As a result of these developments, Arsenal’s goalkeeping lineup now includes David Raya as the first-choice keeper, with Neto providing experienced backup.

Tommy Setford, a promising young goalkeeper, is expected to step up as the third-choice option, with Alexei Rojas likely supporting the squad as needed.