Mikel Arteta & Aaron Ramsey - Arsenal
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Former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is on the verge of completing a landmark transfer to Mexican side Pumas UNAM, with the 34-year-old Wales captain set to sign a one-year deal, according toThe Athletic’s David Ornstein.
Ramsey, whose contract with Cardiff City officially expires today, June 30, 2025, has already passed a medical in Mexico City and is expected to put pen to paper in the coming hours. The deal includes an option for a further year and would make Ramsey the first high-profile British player to feature in Liga MX, marking a major milestone in both his career and the league’s international profile.
The veteran midfielder returned to his boyhood club Cardiff in 2023 but endured a difficult second spell, making just 10 appearances during the 2024/25 season due to ongoing hamstring injuries. Despite those setbacks, he briefly stepped in as interim manager for Cardiff’s final three Championship matches, but was unable to prevent relegation to League One.
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While there was speculation Ramsey could remain at Cardiff in a coaching role, he opted to continue his playing career, motivated by his ambition to captain Wales at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “There’s a lot to play for, and that World Cup is a massive carrot being dangled,” Ramsey said in April.
Arsenal - Aaron Ramsey
Former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey (Image credit: Getty Images)
The move to Pumas has been facilitated by agent David Baldwin, who represents both Ramsey and Pumas head coach Efraín Juárez. Ramsey reportedly visited the club’s Cantera training facilities last week and was impressed by the vision laid out by club officials. A verbal agreement has been reached, with Pumas offering a reported $2.5 million annual salary, exceeding his earnings at Cardiff.
Pumas, who finished sixth in the 2024/25 Liga MX campaign and qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup, view Ramsey as a marquee addition for their Apertura 2025 season, which kicks off on July 13 against Santos Laguna.
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Ramsey’s departure from Cardiff had been widely expected. As reported byNowArsenal earlier in the summerl, ongoing injury issues and uncertainty around the club’s managerial future made a contract renewal unlikely. The move to Mexico offers Ramsey a fresh challenge and a competitive platform to maintain his fitness and leadership ahead of a potential World Cup swansong.
A fan favourite at Arsenal, Ramsey made 369 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 64 goals and providing 60 assists, and played a central role in their FA Cup triumphs in 2014, 2015, and 2017. His career also includes a Serie A title with Juventus and 86 caps for Wales, where he now captains the national side following Gareth Bale’s retirement.
With his move to Pumas, Ramsey embarks on a new chapter that blends ambition with legacy, a final push to end his storied career on a high, on a new continent, with the World Cup firmly in sight.
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