A Quiet Giant: Arsenal Closing In on 18-Year-Old Gem Tommy Setford
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal squad has been gearing up for the upcoming Premier League season, and the Spaniard has already made a big statement by setting his sights on a top-flight goalkeeping reinforcement. The Gunners, fresh from two consecutive second-placed finishes behind Manchester City, have been linked with a move for Tommy Setford, an England international and promising young custodian from Dutch giants Ajax.
Arteta’s Arsenal squad returned to pre-season training with a bang, with several first-team stars making the trip to Marbella for a training camp in Spain. After a grueling schedule that includes a pre-season tour of the United States, where they will take on Bournemouth, Liverpool, and Manchester United, the Gunners are ready to unleash their full fury on the Premier League this term.
As always, this summer has seen comings and goings at the Emirates. Departing Arsenal are Cedric Soares and Mohamed Elneny, whose contracts expired at the end of June. To compensate, the Gunners made a shrewd move in tying up David Raya on a permanent deal from Brentford. This strategic coup could have a ripple effect, with Aaron Ramsdale seemingly the prime candidate to leave the Emirates, despite previously denying the reports.
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans have been glued to the Instagram activity of Tommy Setford, the Ajax wonderkid with a deal expiring in 2025. The 18-year-old not only follows a key member of Arsenal’s coaching staff, Inaki Cana, but also appears to be building relationships with some of the club’s stars-in-waiting. Setford, with his pace, footwork, and commanding presence between the sticks, has drawn comparisons with Manchester City’s legendary shot-stopper, Ederson.
There are whispers of an £350,000 offer from Arsenal being submitted to Ajax for Setford, and while it remains a fluid situation, this development further underlines Arteta’s ambitious plan to build a goalkeeping hierarchy fit for the 21st century. Ramsdale and Raya could become the perfect bookends, surrounded by a new wave of talent such as Setford.
Setford joining the fold would give Arsenal three highly-rated keepers within the next generation, poised to battle it out for starts in an attempt to topple their longstanding status as title pretenders. With the club’s pursuit of Setford gaining significant momentum, it seems Arteta has no intention of resting on his laurels in the quest for greatness.
Follow us on all social media platforms for more updates, as 90min will keep you covered with all the latest developments and expert opinions as the transfer saga unfolds.
Keywords: Tommy Setford, Arsenal, Ajax, Goalkeeping reinforcements, Inaki Cana, Pre-season, Transfer News, Mikel Arteta