Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya reveals near-move to Bayern Munich
FC Bayern’s starting #1 could’ve been someone completely different
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: David Raya of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern München at Arsenal Stadium on November 26, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images) | Getty Images With Manuel Neuer recently celebrating his 40th birthday, he won’t be around much longer. Fortunately, he and Bayern Munich both selected Jonas Urbig as Neuer’s heir who turned out to be an awesome goalkeeper.
It almost wasn’t Urbig, as someone else was linked to the Rekordmeister : Spain international David Raya. “I was very, very close to joining another club, but luckily that didn’t happen and in the end, Arsenal made a bid and I came here. Which club?
It was Bayern Munich”, Raya revealed in an interview with Sky Sports (as captured by X account @iMiaSanMia ). This was before Raya moved to Arsenal. The 30-year-old was Brentford’s starting goalkeeper, before a loan move to his current club was made permanent.
In the end, the Bavarians went and got Urbig six months after Raya went to Arsenal for good. Sometimes Bayern doesn’t sign a player and it something that could’ve been. In this case, Bayern won.