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Arsenal sign Meslier on free transfer

Reuters

Published: 10 Jul 2026, 04:59 PM

Arsenal sign Meslier on free transfer

Reuters Photo

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Premier League champions Arsenal have signed goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer following his departure from Leeds United, the ​north London club said on Thursday.

The 26-year-old Frenchman joins ‌after seven seasons at Leeds, where he made 215 appearances in all competitions and kept 70 clean sheets.

"I'm very happy and very proud to ​join Arsenal. I cannot wait to show the love that ​I've got for this badge, and I cannot wait ⁠to win trophies with this team, because this is a ​club that needs to lift trophies again and again," Meslier said ​in a statement.

"First of all, I want to start [working] with the keepers, to show my levels, to continue to develop my skills, my ability. And ​then obviously to gain some game time, because this is ​what I missed last year."

Meslier will face stiff competition from first-choice goalkeeper David ‌Raya, ⁠who won the Premier League Golden Glove in 2025-26.

Meslier began his career at hometown club Lorient, graduating through the academy before making his senior debut in 2018 at the age of 18. ​After making 28 ​league appearances during ⁠the 2018-19 season, he joined Leeds on loan in August 2019.

The goalkeeper helped Leeds secure promotion ​to the Premier League in his first season ​in England ⁠and later made the move permanent. He went on to make 107 Premier League appearances for the Yorkshire club.

Meslier will wear the ⁠number ​30 shirt and link up with his ​new teammates for pre-season training ahead of Arsenal's opening league match against newly promoted ​Coventry City on 21 August.


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