Arsenal signed Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson from Dijon on Monday, so let’s take a look at the cost of the deal, the player’s wages and his contract.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Arsenal goalkeeping coach Ianki Cana Pavon with new signing Alex Runarsson during a training session at London Colney on September 21, 2020 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND: Arsenal goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana Pavon with new signing Alex Runarsson on September 21, 2020. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Contrary to previous reports claiming a contract to 2025, Arsenal confirmed their new signing is joining on a four-year deal with the club. Rúnarsson will reportedly earn wages of £40,000-a-week over the course of that contract.

Another detail that appears to have changed in the last day or so is the reported fee. The English media previously claimed a fee of around £1.5m, but after the deal’s announcement, many updated their stories.

Football.London are now reporting a fee of around £1m, whilst Goal write that it’s “just over” £1m. Either way, it’s clearly not a big-money transfer for the new backup goalkeeper.

This all makes sense, given Rúnarsson was clearly Arsenal’s budget option this summer. The club also held an interest in David Raya, with some claiming they still do. But Brentford wouldn’t negotiate, and the Gunners needed a goalkeeper before deadline day.

If the fee really is around £1m, it will be completely covered by the money Arsenal are bringing in through Chuba Akpom’s sell-on clause (£1.1m). That leaves the Emi Martinez fee (£20m) intact to spend elsewhere.