Following reports that he’s signed for Arsenal for a summer transfer, Matt Turner has posted his reaction on Instagram.
Earlier this week, Taylor Twellman of ESPN reported that Matt Turner’s transfer agreement and player agreement to join Arsenal have already both been signed.
Effectively, the deal is all officially done, but that’s pending a work permit and a medical in the summer. The transfer won’t go through until then, and Turner will remain with New England Revolution for the time being.
Responding to a post confirming the news on his Instagram story, Turner wrote: “I’m grateful for every twist and turn in my life because they all led me here. This moment. Right now.”
Turner then posted a picture of his younger self wearing an Arsenal shirt, with the caption: “Dream big little man, you never know how far it’ll take you.”
Turner will likely need to wait a little longer for his official unveiling, given the work permit and medical are still to come. But those seem like formalities at this stage.
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter previously spoke about the transfer, saying: “It’s an amazing story. Undrafted, then USMNT starter… and now Turner’s set to join Arsenal. It’s incredible.”
Fabrizio Romano claims the transfer fee is €7m (£5.8m) plus €3m (£2.5m) in bonuses. The Daily Mail report that it’s £5.8m with £2m in bonuses, and The Athletic write that it’s actually slightly under $7m (£5.2m) with undisclosed add-ons.
The actual price is probably somewhere between £5-6m with £2-2.5m in add-ons.
The suggestion from all sources is that New England will have a sell-on clause in Turner’s deal, and that his arrival will facilitate Bernd Leno’s departure.
Turner currently appears to be the US Men’s National Team first-choice goalkeeper, keeping 11 clean sheets in 16 games since his debut last February.
The goalkeeper also won the Concacaf Gold Cup Golden Glove Award last summer, as the USA won the competition with five clean sheets in six games.
On top of that, Turner was named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021 for his club exploits.
