Premier League champions Arsenal have signed goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer following his departure from Leeds United, the north London club said on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Frenchman joins Leeds after seven seasons, where he made 215 appearances in all competitions and kept 70 clean sheets.
«I am very happy and very proud to join Arsenal. I can’t wait to show the love I have for this badge, and I can’t wait to win trophies with this team, because this is a club that needs to win trophies again and again,» Meslier said in a statement.
«First of all, I want to start with the goalkeepers, to show my level, to further develop my skills and abilities. And then of course to gain some playing time, because this is what I missed last year.»
Meslier will face stiff competition from first-choice goalkeeper David Raya, who won the Premier League Golden Glove in 2025-2026.
Meslier started his career at Lorient, graduating from the academy before making his senior debut in 2018 at the age of 18. After making 28 league appearances during the 2018/19 season, he was loaned out to Leeds in August 2019.
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The goalkeeper helped Leeds secure promotion to the Premier League in his first season in England and later made the move permanent. He went on to play 107 Premier League games for the Yorkshire club.
Meslier will wear the number 30 shirt and work with his new teammates for pre-season training ahead of Arsenal’s opening match against newly promoted Coventry City on August 21.
Published on July 9, 2026
