Arsenal goalkeeper Tommy Setford could be set for a season in Spanish football after Las Palmas emerged as strong contenders to sign the young shot-stopper on loan.
According to The Telegraph’s Sam Dean, the second-division Spanish side are working with Arsenal on a deal that would see the 20-year-old spend the 2026-27 campaign gaining regular first-team experience.
Setford joined Arsenal from Ajax in the summer of 2024 and has enjoyed a steady rise since arriving in north London.
The England Under-20 international has featured regularly for Arsenal’s academy sides over the past two seasons while also training consistently with Mikel Arteta’s senior squad.
He made his first-team debut during the 2024-25 season and has continued to develop behind the scenes as one of the club’s most highly regarded young goalkeepers.
However, the pathway to regular senior football at the Emirates remains challenging.
David Raya continues as Arsenal’s established number one, while the club strengthened their goalkeeping department again this summer with the arrival of Illan Meslier to support Kepa Arrizabalaga.
A temporary move is therefore viewed as the best next step in Setford’s development.
Arsenal have increasingly used carefully selected loan spells to accelerate the progress of their brightest academy prospects, allowing them to gain valuable experience before returning to compete for places in the first team.
A move to Spain would expose Setford to a different style of football while offering the opportunity to play regular senior matches for the first time in his career.
Las Palmas are understood to believe the Arsenal youngster has the quality to compete immediately for minutes as they prepare for the new campaign.
The club have been active in the transfer market this summer as they look to assemble a squad capable of mounting a strong promotion challenge.
For Arsenal, ensuring Setford plays consistently is the priority rather than keeping him as a reserve goalkeeper with limited opportunities.
Arteta has repeatedly spoken about the importance of young players receiving competitive minutes at the right stage of their development, and the club’s recent loan strategy has reflected that philosophy.
Setford remains highly rated within Arsenal and is viewed as a goalkeeper with the potential to challenge for a senior role in the years ahead.
Discussions between the two clubs are ongoing, and while an agreement has not yet been finalised, a loan switch to Las Palmas is understood to be progressing in a positive direction.
If completed, the move would give Setford the chance to continue his development in a competitive environment before returning to Arsenal with significantly more first-team experience.