Southampton have signed Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal for an initial fee of £18million, plus £1m should they avoid relegation from the Premier League this season, and potentially another £6m based on incentives. The 26-year-old goalkeeper has signed a four-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.
Our writers — experts in transfers, tactics, data and football finance — have come together to rate this summer’s senior Premier League deals in five categories, with each aspect given a score out of 100, to reach a total score out of 500. Hence, The Athletic 500. The ratings are explained in more detail here (not all transfers will be rated as there may be a lack of data to support an analysis).
Below is our rating for this move.
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Tactical fit — 76/100
A look at how the player fits into his new club tactically, using Sentient Sports’ bespoke tactical-fit model, explained by our tactical expert.
Ramsdale’s career has been filled with ups and downs. His move to Southampton offers a fresh start that could help him refine his game while also providing the regular minutes he needs to build confidence.
He’s a goalkeeper who can play out from the back, which is essential for a possession-based team, but there were concerns over his short passing under pressure at times in his Arsenal career, particularly after errors against Brentford and Southampton. Nevertheless, his pass map below shows a willingness to play short, which likely appeals to Southampton manager Russell Martin. He does have the ability to act as a plus-one in the build-up phase but questions remain about his consistency and reliability in those situations.
Ramsdale is also capable of making exceptional saves, often in high-pressure moments that keep his team in the game.
With a save percentage of 71 per cent for Arsenal in the 2022-23 season, Ramsdale has shown his shot-stopping abilities at a high level. His reflexes and agility allow him to pull off spectacular saves, especially in one-on-one situations or long-range shots.
Additionally, Ramsdale acts as a sweeper-keeper, often stepping out of his penalty area to perform defensive actions. He averaged 1.1 defensive actions outside the penalty area per game. As shown below, he became more active as a sweeper-keeper last season, with an increase in defensive actions per game.
However, Ramsdale has moments where lapses in concentration or poor judgment can turn the tide of the game.
These errors are often linked to his positioning and footwork, where he can be caught too central in relation to the shot, making it difficult for him to react quickly. His tendency to overcompensate for poor positioning by shuffling his feet slowly or reacting late can result in goals that could have been prevented.
Gillian Kasirye
Season rating: 59/100
Rating the player over the course of last season, using statistics from The Athletic’s data team.
Ramsdale followed up a largely successful 2022-23 season with limited minutes in 2023-24 after Arsenal signed David Raya from Brentford.
He began the season by helping beat Manchester City in the Community Shield, saving Rodri’s penalty in a shootout which Arsenal won 4-1 (the match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes). The Englishman went on to start Arsenal’s first four league matches, keeping one clean sheet as they won three times and drew once.
However, Raya’s arrival on loan meant Ramsdale lost his spot after the September international break. His only domestic appearances from then to the end of the calendar year were both against Raya’s parent club, once each in the Carabao Cup and Premier League, with Arsenal winning both games 1-0. He also played in their final Champions League group game against PSV Eindhoven.
Ramsdale played three more times in the second half of the season, featuring in defeats against Liverpool (FA Cup third round) and West Ham (Carabao Cup fourth round) and the return fixture against Brentford, in which his error gifted Yoane Wissa a goal. Arsenal, however, managed to win the match 2-1.
He made the England squad for Euro 2024 but was an unused substitute for all of their seven matches.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Gaming rating: 77/100
Rating the player according to Football Manager 2024’s data across both current and potential ability.
According to the data that powers Football Manager, collected via their extensive scouting network which is used by clubs worldwide, Ramsdale is a strong Premier League goalkeeper who could still become one of the best in the division.
His current ability rating is 148, which is on a par with Manchester United’s Andre Onana and just shy of Everton and England No 1 Jordan Pickford (150). His upside is the interesting aspect here, as a potential ability rating of 160 puts him as the best of the rest behind Ederson of Manchester City (180 current ability) and Liverpool’s Alisson (176 current ability), ahead of Aston Villa’s World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez (157).
For Southampton, Ramsdale is a clear upgrade on Alex McCarthy (121 current ability, 140 potential) and Gavin Bazanu (127 current ability, 130-160 range for potential).
Peter Rutzler
Financial value rating: 70/100
A four-category summary of the player’s transfer in financial terms — and whether it makes sense for his new club
Market value — 19/25
Southampton are signing an England international goalkeeper, who still has his best years ahead of him, for an initial £18million. Including the incentives, which include £1m if relegation is avoided this season and £6m in other add-ons, the deal is still less than the total sum Arsenal signed Ramsdale from Sheffield United for in summer 2021. Still not cheap, but good value.
Squad cost — 16/25
Ramsdale is one of Southampton’s most expensive outlays of the summer but he fits alongside, rather than above, fellow newcomers Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes and Matheus Fernandes. It’s a deal that doesn’t break the bank but is a large investment in a key position.
Contract sensibility — 19/25
The ideal scenario would be a five-year deal but a four-year contract with the option of a further one nearly takes us to that point. Ramsdale will be one of the club’s highest earners, but that it is to be expected when plucking a player from a title-chasing club.
Resale value — 16/25
Ramsdale is 26 and therefore certainly has the potential to be sold on again. This may be particularly important should Southampton fail to beat relegation. Ramsdale has been sold for a higher fee in the past, so there is scope for a marginal gain. However Arsenal retain a sell-on, so that may limit matters.
Peter Rutzler
Risk or reward? 74/100
Is there a history of injury or other problems that could crop up and make this deal a bad one in retrospect? Or does the player come with a clean bill of health? Our expert takes a look.
Ramsdale is the obvious candidate to start games for Southampton ahead of Alex McCarthy and is likely to be the No 1 even when Gavin Bazunu returns from injury later in the season.
Ramsdale has not suffered a major injury over the course of his career and brings plenty of Premier League experience with 153 appearances in the competition. He lost minutes last season due to Arsenal’s tactical evolution and Raya’s passing ability. That is a concern, but he showed in 2022-23 that, while his distribution could be improved, he can operate as the sweeper-keeper and initiator in a possession-oriented system such as Martin’s.
Still only 26, Ramsdale could potentially be Southampton’s starting goalkeeper for several years to come. He is also likely to have a chip on his shoulder after last season and will want to break into England’s starting XI with a new head coach in charge, so this move has plenty going for it.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Overall rating: 356/500
(Photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)