Aaron Ramsdale: I Refused To Play To Push Through Arsenal Move

By The Editor
on 24th December 2021

Aaron Ramsdale revealed that he refused to play for Sheffield United to push through Arsenal move…

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale revealed that he told former club Sheffield United that he wouldn’t play in their Championship game against West Brom in August in order to force through the move to north London, the goalkeeper told The Cycling GK.

Ramsdale completed a protracted summer move to the Emirates Stadium late in the summer window after the club had a number of bids knocked back.

Fans and critics were bemused by Mikel Arteta’s desperation to land Ramsdale, a goalkeeper who’d just experienced back-to-back relegations – especially when our squad already boasted the likes of Bernd Leno.

The final fee saw us pay an initial £24million to The Blades, with the fee potentially rising to £30m.

Ramsdale narrated that after he initially pledged his professionalism, he was taken aback by Sheffield United’s reluctance to honour their word and accept a bid that was close to their valuation.

The 23-year-old then took it upon himself to force their hand.

“They said they wouldn’t stand in my way if bids came. But there were bids coming and they were turning them down,” Ramsdale told Watford shot-stopper, Ben Foster.

“And they were making these numbers up about paying Bournemouth back. I was told on the day of the game another bid has come in, so I decided to play, but then after the game, they rejected it.

“Normally if you don’t get a move, you’re rewarded with a new contract. I’m not naming names, but someone at the club said, ‘We didn’t ask him to take less money when he was conceding goals at the start of last year’.

“So that was when I basically said ‘I won’t play against West Brom’, do what you want,” Ramsdale concluded.

So far, Ramsdale’s move to Arsenal is up there with the signing of the summer as the England international continues to form an aura between the sticks.

He has kept nine clean sheets in 16 games for the club this season in all competitions as Arteta’s men sit fourth in the Premier League table and into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.