Illan Meslier ‘to join’ Arsenal on free transfer pending medical | OneFootball

Illan Meslier is on course to join Arsenal on a free transfer, with medical tests due before the move, The Athletic reports. The two-time Championship title-winner would join the Premier League champions and Champions League finalists.

The goalkeeper left Leeds after his contract expired this summer, having slipped to third choice. He was replaced by Karl Darlow during the 2024/25 promotion run-in, then fell further down after Lucas Perri arrived from Olympique Lyonnais.

He did not play a competitive game last season, featuring only a handful of times for the Under-21s. BBC Sport reported this summer that Arsenal were interested after he became a free agent.

Mikel Arteta’s side are seeking goalkeeper depth behind clear first-choice David Raya and current back-up Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Meslier replaced Kiko Casilla in the 2019/20 season amid the Spaniard’s racism ban, helping Marcelo Bielsa’s side win the Championship.

He later emerged as one of the Premier League’s most promising young goalkeepers but never fully realised that potential at Leeds. He was first-choice for most of their three seasons in the top flight, then dropped by Sam Allardyce in a doomed survival bid.

Daniel Farke kept him as No 1 until spring 2025, when errors mounted and Darlow took over. That dip in form preceded his exit from Elland Road.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk