August 30, (THEWILL) – Arsenal have signed Bournemouth goalkeeper, Norberto Neto, on a season-long loan for the 2024/2025 campaign.
The 35-year-old Brazilian joins the Gunners after two successful seasons with the Cherries, where he made 32 appearances in the previous season. This transfer became possible following Bournemouth’s acquisition of Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea.
Neto will serve as a backup keeper at the Emirates, replacing Aaron Ramsdale who has moved to Southampton. However, due to his prior involvement in the Carabao Cup with Bournemouth, Neto will not be eligible for Arsenal’s fixtures in that competition. He will be available for selection in FA Cup and UEFA Champions League matches.
The Gunners turned to Neto after failing to sign Espanyol’s Joan Garcia. Arsenal expect the former Bournemouth player to support David Raya, who joined from Brentford last summer and quickly became Mikel Arteta’s preferred choice in goal. Raya’s arrival led to Ramsdale’s reduced playing time, despite Arteta’s claims that neither goalkeeper was considered the definitive starter.
During the 2023/2024 season, Ramsdale made only 11 appearances, while Raya featured in 41 matches across all competitions. Raya played a key role in Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League campaign and their pursuit of the English Premier League title.
This transfer marks another change in Arsenal’s goalkeeping lineup, reflecting the club’s ongoing efforts to strengthen their squad depth. Neto brings experience and reliability to the team, providing important cover for Raya as Arsenal competes across multiple competitions in the upcoming season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
