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

The Athletic reports that former Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier is on course to join the Premier League champions and Champions League finalists on a free transfer, with medical tests due.

Earlier this summer, BBC Sport said Arsenal were interested after Meslier became a free agent, with Mikel Arteta seeking depth behind first-choice David Raya and current back-up Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Meslier left Elland Road when his contract expired this summer, with Leeds announcing the departure before publishing their retained list last month. He spent last season as third-choice.

Karl Darlow took over for the 2024/25 Championship promotion run-in, and Lucas Perri’s arrival from Olympique Lyonnais pushed Meslier further down the order. The 26-year-old did not make a competitive appearance, featuring only a handful of times for the Under-21s.

He replaced Kiko Casilla in 2019/20 after the Spaniard’s racism ban, helping Marcelo Bielsa’s side win the Championship. He then emerged as one of the Premier League’s most promising young goalkeepers, though his progress stalled at Leeds.

Meslier started for most of Leeds’ three seasons back in the top flight before Sam Allardyce dropped him during a doomed survival bid. Daniel Farke kept him as No.1 until spring 2025, when frequent errors saw Darlow drafted in.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk