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Southampton have announced the signing of Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal, with the goalkeeper dressing up as Hagrid from the Harry Potter movies.
Rather hilariously, Ramsdale was spotted wearing a Hagrid disguise during Southampton’s play-off final victory against Leeds last season.
The goalkeeper subsequently revealed he had donned the outfit as he went to Wembley to cheer on winger David Brooks, on loan at Saints at the time. The pair are close friends and it is their tradition to attend the play-offs in fancy dress, should one of their friends make it to play under the arch.
Ramsdale will join the south coast club in an initial £18million deal, with Southampton set to pay an additional £7m in add-ons.
The 26-year-old has agreed a four-year deal to stay at St Mary’s and can extend his contract by an additional 12 months.
Aaron Ramsdale was unveiled as a Southampton player while wearing a Hagrid outfit
On Friday, the ex-Arsenal goalkeeper signed for Saints in a £25million contract, joining for four years
It brings an end to his three-year stay at the Emirates Stadium, after Ramsdale had been usurped as Mikel Arteta’s first choice between the sticks by David Raya.
Speaking out today on his unique fancy dress choice, Ramsdale told the club: ‘A group of my friends, we all play football and there’s a couple of lads who don’t, we’ve been twice before to watch our friend Harvey Gilmore play for Tranmere and Halifax,’ he said. ‘Both times we’ve done fancy dress.
‘A group of my friends, we all play football and there’s a couple of lads who don’t, we’ve been twice before to watch our friend Harvey Gilmore play for Tranmere and Halifax,’ he said. ‘Both times we’ve done fancy dress.’
Saints announced his arrival on X (formerly Twitter) by the iconic movie character, writing: ‘Yer a Saint, @AaronRamsdale98,’ before writing in a separate post: ‘Wizard of the window.’
Ramsdale would go on to make 89 appearances for Arsenal following his £26m transfer from Sheffield United in 2021 and grew to become a favourite amongst the fans at the Emirates Stadium.
He would go on to make 11 appearances in all competitions during the 2023-24 campaign, but will now get a shot at regular first-team football with Southampton.
‘I’m absolutely delighted,’ said Ramsdale told the club.
Ramsdale was spotted in the stands cheering on Southampton’s David Brooks, a close friend
Ramsdale will join the south coast club in an initial £18million deal, with Southampton set to pay an additional £7m in add-ons
The transfer brings an end to his three-year stay at Arsenal, with Ramsdale making 89 appearances for the north London club
Ramsdale stated that it was his ambition to get back to playing football, after having ‘sat on the bench at Arsenal’
‘The way the manager wants to play, the way he was when I spoke to him, he was just full of so much enthusiasm. I’d never met him before but he made me feel about eight feet tall, which is just what you want.’
Speaking on his lack of game time last season, he said: ‘I’ve had the feeling of sitting on the bench and I don’t want to do that again. Playing football, winning games of football, even getting draws away from home against big opposition or when your back’s against the wall.
‘When you see the fans’ faces at the end and you know the joy it brings and also the joy it brings the squad on Monday morning after a scrappy late win away from home or a really grinded-out win against a tough opponent.’
Arteta has subsequently thanked Ramsdale, following his move.
‘Firstly I want to say thank you so much [to Ramsdale] for what he has done for the club, for the team, for myself,’ the Arsenal boss said in a press conference earlier today.
‘When he joined, he brought a lot of joy and charisma and brought his energy and he was really good at that time.
The ex-Arsenal goalkeeper posed for a selfie with a supporter at BOXPARK Wembley
He was later seen chatting to fans in the stands – minus Hagrid’s bushy black stick-on beard
‘Things developed and he had a situation that was very difficult for him and was insisting a lot that he is very happy when he plays. We have tried to fulfil that desire that he had.
‘He looked really happy and excited the other day and he’s joining a great club with a great coach. So I think we are all happy for him.’
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