Major Arsenal target praised for not signing for Gunners, ‘will get equal or better proposals’ | OneFootball

After Arsenal’s pursuit of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia fell short in the summer transfer window, former Real Madrid and Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has praised Garcia’s decision to remain with the Spanish club.

Casilla, now retired, believes that Joan Garcia made the right choice by rejecting a move to the Gunners and staying put at Espanyol, asserting that he’ll receive “equal or better proposals” in the future, ignoring the fact the player didn’t reject a move, his club did. Garcia was up for it.

Casilla explained his thoughts to AS, saying, “I think he has done very well staying at Espanyol. Arsenal may sign you, you may even play, but at the slightest doubt, they will take you away and put in another goalkeeper, as they did with Aaron Ramsdale.”

Joan Garcia playing for Espanyol (Photo via Garcia on Instagram)

Arsenal’s summer pursuit of Joan Garcia

During the summer transfer window, Arsenal were determined to sign Joan Garcia as they searched for a long-term goalkeeping option. Their interest became more pressing after selling Ramsdale to Southampton, but the negotiations proved far more complicated than anticipated.

The Gunners reportedly made a bid of €20 million plus add-ons, but Espanyol stood firm, refusing to sell the 23-year-old for anything less than his €30 million release clause.

Joan Garcia, who had attracted interest from several top European clubs, was considered a priority target for Arsenal. According to his agent, Andy Bara, Arsenal’s offer was genuine, and negotiations stretched over an entire week before the transfer deadline.

“I had an offer from Arsenal on deadline day for €25m (£21.1m), we were negotiating the whole week about that but Espanyol didn’t want to let him go,” Bara confirmed on Podcast Inkubator.

Despite Arsenal’s hopes, Espanyol maintained their stance, refusing to lower the release clause value.

The buyout clause system in Spain meant that Arsenal would have needed to pay the entire €30 million upfront, a demand that proved too steep for the North London club.

Why Joan Garcia stayed at Espanyol

Joan Garcia playing for Espanyol (Photo via Garcia on Instagram)

Garcia’s rise to prominence at Espanyol has been rapid and well-earned. The young goalkeeper took his chance in March 2024 when he replaced an injured Fernando Pacheco in a match against Huesca and hasn’t looked back since. Establishing himself as Espanyol’s number one, he played a crucial role in their promotion to La Liga and went on to win an Olympic gold medal with Spain’s U21 team.

Given his stellar performances and rapid development, Espanyol quickly locked him into a long-term contract that runs until 2028, featuring a significant release clause. Espanyol’s sporting director, Garagarza, even expressed how highly the club values Garcia, stating, “We are facing a great goalkeeper but a great person, who is far above the goalkeeper. His behaviour, his knowing how to be, his attunement and his tone of voice, for me is 10.”

Arsenal forced to explore alternatives

Neto signs for Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)

After failing to secure Joan Garcia, Arsenal had to look elsewhere to strengthen their goalkeeping department. They shifted focus to securing experienced Brazilian goalkeeper Neto on a season-long loan from Bournemouth. Neto’s arrival added depth to the squad, but it is clear that he isn’t a long-term solution, as Arsenal are looking for a younger player who can provide consistent quality for years to come.

Neto’s arrival has helped fill the gap left by Ramsdale, but there are limitations to his involvement. As he had already featured for Bournemouth in the League Cup, Neto is cup-tied, preventing him from representing Arsenal in that competition against Bolton Wanderers in the upcoming tie next week, for instance.

What’s next for Arsenal and Joan Garcia?

Arsenal’s Inaki Cana follows Joan Garcia on Instagram

Despite their failure to sign Joan Garcia, Arsenal’s interest in the young goalkeeper remains. Garcia is reportedly still on their transfer shortlist, with the club closely monitoring his progress at Espanyol. However, the chances of a future transfer may be even more challenging, especially given Garcia’s rising stock in European football.

Arsenal may have missed out on a potential long-term solution between the posts, but Casilla’s comments suggest that Garcia made the right decision by staying in Spain, at least for now. Casilla confidently predicted, “Surely in a year or two, equal or better proposals will come to him.”

For now, Arsenal will have to wait before making another attempt to sign Garcia, but the North London club is unlikely to abandon their pursuit entirely.

Meanwhile, Garcia will continue to develop at Espanyol, and if his performances maintain the current trajectory, Arsenal – and potentially other top European clubs – may come knocking once again.