Gunners grab US goalie Turner
ARSENAL have signed American international goalkeeper Matt Turner from New England Revolution.
The 28-year-old is their third signing after moves for young Brazil forward Marquinhos and Portugal Under-21 international Fabio Vieira.
Turner has signed a three-year contract with the option of a fourth year.
“The good thing was I got to follow along the tail-end of last season and watch every game Arsenal was playing,” Turner said.
“It really felt like I was a part of it which was interesting, but I did have a slight injury that kept me out for a bit so really my focus in this past few months was just getting back to full fitness, and then playing some games to get a rhythm, and that’s leading into the start of pre-season here.”
Turner’s arrival casts further doubt over Bernd Leno’s future at the Emirates, the Germany international having lost the numberone spot to Aaron Ramsdale after his arrival from Sheffield United last summer.
Qualify
Leno has been linked with newly-promoted Fulham, with Turner now expected to play the role of back-up to Ramsdale.
Turner joined the Revolution in 2016, picking up 18 caps for the US and helping them qualify for the 2022 World Cup, where they will face England and Wales in the group stages.
He revealed he has already been working with Arsenal goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana.
“We’ve had pretty close contact,” he added.
“Especially once I was back playing games, looking at things, clips and just talking about games, and looking at training clips, and those kinds of things, so the back and forth was really, really nice, so again that’s another way of just feeling like I was part of the club, even though I wasn’t here in north London.”
Arsenal’s summer business is likely to continue, with Man City striker Gabriel Jesus closing in on a move to north London, while Leeds forward Raphinha has also been linked.