Arsenal sign Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan

Arsenal has completed the signing of Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 28-year-old international has made 124 appearances since signing for the south-coast side in 2017, the Premier League club announced in club statement on Friday.

Mat will wear the number 33 shirt at Arsenal.

Born in Sydney, Mat played for Blacktown City and Central Coast Mariners in Australia between 2009 and 2013, before moving to Europe where he made more than 100 appearances for Club Brugge in Belgium.

In 2015, he joined Valencia in Spain, where he spent two seasons, including a loan spell back in Belgium with Genk.

Mat has won 59 caps for the Australia national team, playing in the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2015 and 2019 Asian Cups. He won the Best Goalkeeper award at the 2015 tournament which was played in Australia.

“Mat is an experienced goalkeeper, a proven talent in the Premier League and has also played many internationals for Australia,” Technical director Edu said “Mat will further strengthen our squad with his experience and knowledge of playing at the highest level.

“Following Matt Macey’s recent move to Hibernian, Mat will provide very good competition and positive support to all our goalkeepers and we are looking forward to him integrating quickly into the set-up here at Arsenal.”

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said he has been impressed by Ryan’s performance and experience as a Premier League goalkeeper.

“We know Mat very well through his performances with Brighton in recent seasons and he brings additional quality to our squad,” Arteta said.

“Mat has very good Premier League experience and has played over 100 times in the league, which is something that will benefit us greatly on and off the pitch. We welcome Mat to Arsenal and look forward to working with him this season.”