Arsenal star admits dream to leave and play elsewhere

David Raya has admitted that he would ‘love’ to play in La Liga one day despite insisting he is happy at Arsenal for the time being.

Raya was born in Barcelona but has spent his entire professional career in England, having joined Blackburn Rovers as a 16-year-old in 2012.

Now 31, Raya is in the final two years of his contract at Arsenal and talks have not yet begun over an extension, although the Spaniard’s excellent form suggests that there is no danger of the Gunners looking to move on from him.

However, having broken into the Spain national team in recent years, Raya could look to return to his homeland in the near future after revealing that he was keen to play in La Liga.

“Yes, I would love to, I would love to try LaLiga,” Raya told MARCA when asked if he would like to experience Spanish football.

“For now, I'm very happy here, but I would like to try the Spanish league. I think it's a very competitive league. Maybe, in the future, I could play for a Spanish club. I'm Spanish and I would love to play there, that's for sure.

David Raya: Arsenal goalkeeper thriving after experiencing ‘perfect year’

Raya joined Arsenal in 2023, initially on loan, before signing permanently the following year for a fee of €32 million and he has been an ever-present under Mikel Arteta since.

The ex-Brentford man has won the Premier League Golden Glove award for the last three years, with his form peaking in the last 12 months as Arsenal won their first title in more than 20 years.

“I think I've had a perfect year,” Raya said. “Maybe the only thing I missed was playing in the World Cup.

“Every year since I arrived at Arsenal I've improved, and hopefully that will continue, but I think this year, winning the Premier League, being decisive in both the league and the Champions League, in the Community Shield...I think it's been my best season as a professional, being decisive and lifting trophies.”