Arsenal - Andrea Berta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta was reportedly relieved when Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia chose Barcelona over the Gunners during the summer transfer window, according to The Athletic’s James McNicholas.
The 24-year-old, long admired at the Emirates, activated his £21 million release clause to join the Spanish champions from Espanyol. While Arsenal had considered him as a long-term challenger to first-choice David Raya, Berta viewed the fee as excessive for a backup role. Instead, the Italian director swiftly pivoted to a lower-cost, more experienced option in Kepa Arrizabalaga, signing the Chelsea goalkeeper for £5 million.
Berta, who took charge of Arsenal’s recruitment in March 2025 after a successful 12-year stint at Atlético Madrid, saw the situation as a chance to balance ambition with financial prudence. “We are really excited to have Kepa join our Arsenal family,” he said at the unveiling, highlighting the 31-year-old’s “great experience” and trophy-winning pedigree. “He is a player who has already won major trophies, and we cannot wait for him to join the group and help the club win.”
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Garcia, meanwhile, has flourished at Barcelona, where new manager Hansi Flick quickly installed him as first choice. The young Spaniard impressed with a series of saves in a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano, earning praise from Flick, who called him “the future of Barça.” Garcia himself acknowledged Barcelona’s faith, saying: “They made a significant financial commitment that many teams probably wouldn’t have made. So I felt they truly loved me, and that’s very important for a player.”
Joan Garcia
Arsenal missed out on the signing of Joan Garcia to Barcelona (Image credit: Getty Images)
For Arsenal, the decision reflected Berta’s pragmatic squad-building philosophy, shaped during his Atlético days, where he was behind high-profile deals including Antoine Griezmann’s £103 million sale to Barcelona and his later £16.5 million return.
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This summer, under Berta’s direction, Arsenal spent £255 million on eight signings, including Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi, while Kepa’s arrival provided depth and experience without straining the budget.
Still, not all fans were convinced. Some questioned why Arsenal passed on Garcia, seen as a goalkeeper for the future, in favour of Kepa, whose career has been punctuated by inconsistency since his £71 million Chelsea move in 2018. “Garcia could’ve been our No. 1 for a decade,” one supporter posted on X, reflecting wider concerns among fans.
Even so, Berta’s preference for proven, “oven-ready” players remains clear. Alongside Kepa, he also targeted experienced additions such as Brentford’s Christian Norgaard, prioritising immediate impact over long-term potential. Whether that approach brings Arsenal the trophies they crave remains to be seen, but Berta has left no doubt about his intent to combine big-name signings with calculated financial discipline.
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