Arsenal has officially confirmed the signing of 18-year-old goalkeeper Tommy Setford from Ajax Amsterdam. The talented England youth international, born in the Netherlands, brings his impressive credentials to North London after developing through Ajax’s esteemed academy system.
Tommy Setford Joins Arsenal from Ajax
Per Mertesacker, Academy Manager, expressed his joy over the new addition. “We welcome Tommy to Arsenal. He is a young goalie with a lot of potential, and we look forward to helping him develop in the future years. Tommy’s initial step on his growth path with us will be to join our under-21 academy group and work regularly with our first-team goalkeeping squad,” Mertesacker stated.
Setford, who had previously represented England at different young levels, including the Under-17s, had only one year left on his contract with Ajax. Despite the Dutch club’s motives of prolonging his stay, Setford chose a new challenge with Arsenal. The Gunners signed him for around £1 million.
Setford acknowledged his excitement in joining the Premier League team. “I’d want to thank Arsenal for the opportunity. I can’t wait to start running. I am familiar with Ethan [Nwnaeri] and Myles [Lewis-Skelly].
They’re great men and we can have a good laugh together. I’ve spent several camps with them, so I know them well. I only saw them for a brief meet and greet!” Setford commented.
Tommy Setford is a Gunner ❤️
We are delighted to announce the signing of the English youth international goalkeeper to our academy ✍️
— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) July 21, 2024
Setford’s journey to Arsenal marks a significant step in his career. Having honed his skills at Ajax, where he played for the Jong Ajax development sides, he now looks forward to new challenges and growth at Arsenal.
“I’m looking forward to learning new things next season and pushing myself to another level. For the short term, it’s very important now to get a feel for the group and start to know everyone,” he added.
Arsenal’s pre-season preparations are in full swing, with Setford joining the squad ahead of their tour of the United States. The team is set to face Bournemouth in a friendly on Wednesday, followed by matches against Manchester United and Liverpool.
The tour will conclude with an Emirates Cup clash against Lyon, providing crucial match practice before the new Premier League season.
Setford’s arrival enhances Arsenal’s goalkeeping options, which include David Raya, Aaron Ramsdale, and Karl Hein. Hein is expected to be the primary goalkeeper for the pre-season tour, with Raya and Ramsdale currently on vacation after their participation in Euro 2024 with Spain and England, respectively.
In addition to Setford, Arsenal is reportedly close to securing the signing of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna. The versatile defender, who impressed for Italy at Euro 2024, is expected to join the Gunners for a fee of £38 million, further strengthening the squad ahead of the new season.
Arsenal fans will be eager to see how these new signings integrate into the team as they aim to build on last season’s performance. With Setford’s potential and the promise of more reinforcements, the future looks bright for the North London club.
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