• The Arsenal shot-stopper reveals the deep emotional impact of losing the Champions League final in Budapest
• Raya traces his remarkable path from England’s fifth tier to European football’s grandest stage
• He faces stiff competition from Unai Simón and Joan García for Spain’s starting goalkeeper position
• The Golden Glove winner recalls learning his trade at Southport, enduring physical battles against veteran opponents
• Despite being eligible for England, the Basque-born keeper always chose to represent Spain

David Raya has spoken candidly about the pain of losing the Champions League final, admitting the penalty shootout defeat left him emotionally shattered even though he maintained a brave face in public.

The Arsenal goalkeeper conceded that losing the showpiece match in Budapest destroyed him inside. He explained that although he left the pitch with his head held high, he felt broken because the team had come so close to winning the trophy for the first time in two decades.

Raya’s appearance in that final represents one of football’s most remarkable rises. His first senior competitive match came in front of just 1,405 supporters at Macclesfield Town in England’s Conference North. This stands in stark contrast to the 61,035 fans who watched him in the Champions League final, making him only the third player in history to compete at both non-league level and in Europe’s biggest club fixture.

The Spain international credits a loan spell at Southport as an 18-year-old with shaping his mentality. Moving from Blackburn Rovers’ Under-21s to the fifth tier, he faced brutal physical challenges from seasoned opponents in their thirties. He recalls receiving black eyes and taking heavy blows from players who targeted the goalkeeper rather than the ball. However, he insists those difficult months taught him the true meaning of professional football, where teammates relied on win bonuses to pay their mortgages.

Now Raya finds himself in another tough battle, this time for his country’s shirt. Despite winning the Premier League Golden Glove for a third consecutive season, he started the World Cup on the substitutes’ bench as Unai Simón played in the opening match against Cape Verde. He competes with Simón and Joan García for the starting role, a situation Spain manager Luis de la Fuente recently highlighted by questioning why the media frequently overlooks Raya.

The keeper, who left Cornella for England at age 16, rejected the possibility of representing England internationally despite his long residency. He maintains he always felt Spanish and never considered switching allegiances, even when his first national team call-up in 2022 prompted Spanish headlines asking, “Who is David Raya?”

Following the Champions League disappointment, Raya found some comfort in helping Arsenal win the Premier League, their first title in over twenty years. He joined the open-top bus celebration before linking up with Spain at their training base in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he now dreams of winning the World Cup just as his childhood idol Iker Casillas did.

• David Raya is set to become only the third footballer to play in a Champions League final after beginning his career in non-league football
• The Arsenal shot-stopper will face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday evening
• Raya spent four months on loan at National League side Southport in 2014, playing in front of fewer than 1,500 fans
• Former coaches recall his confidence and ball-playing skills that set him apart from other young goalkeepers
• The Spaniard won the European Championship with Spain in 2024 and helped Arsenal lift their first Premier League title in 22 years

Saturday afternoon. The stadium fills with noise. Players complete their warm-up routines. David Raya pulls on his gloves and takes a deep breath.

This is not the Champions League final. This scene played out eleven years ago at Moss Rose, home of Macclesfield Town. A teenage Spanish goalkeeper stood between the posts for Southport in front of a tiny crowd. That young man has now reached the biggest stage in European football.

In September 2014, Raya played for Southport against Macclesfield. The visitors lost 3-0 that day. Now aged 30, the Arsenal keeper will create history. He will become only the third person to move from non-league football to a Champions League final. Steve Finnan and Chris Smalling achieved this before him. Finnan won the trophy with Liverpool in 2005 after playing for Welling United. Smalling appeared for Maidstone before reaching the 2011 final with Manchester United.

Raya’s journey started at Cornella, a small club near Barcelona. At 16, he moved to Blackburn Rovers through a partnership between the clubs. Life in Lancashire proved difficult. He faced strong competition from senior keepers like Paul Robinson. After two years without first-team action, Raya made a brave choice. He dropped three levels to join Southport in the National League.

Paul Carden worked as Southport’s assistant manager during that period. He remembers the young keeper clearly. “Nobody could have predicted this future,” Carden said. “You might not feel shocked now, but nobody would have placed a bet on it then.”

The Spaniard trained three days each week with Southport. He worked extra sessions with Blackburn when possible. His team-mates joked that he could play outfield because of his foot skills. This quality was rare for goalkeepers in English football at that time.

Carden recalls one match against Kidderminster. Southport needed points to avoid relegation. Late in the game, Raya received the ball under pressure. Instead of kicking it away, he dribbled past attackers and passed to a defender. “Our hearts stopped on the bench,” Carden explained. “But he showed no fear. He possessed huge confidence, not arrogance. He stayed humble and determined.”

Opponents tried to exploit Raya’s 6ft height with high balls and physical play. However, the keeper possessed skills that compensated for his size. His biggest test came against Derby County in the FA Cup. Raya made several excellent saves. Derby only scored from a late penalty. The young keeper cried after the final whistle. He cared deeply about the result.

Raya returned to Blackburn and eventually became first choice in 2017. Jayson Leutwiler served as his backup at the club. The Canadian international witnessed Raya’s match-winning abilities regularly. “He made impossible saves,” Leutwiler stated. “When a keeper produces special stops four or five times per season, it is not luck. It is quality.”

Leutwiler believes lower-league football builds strong character. “You face different pressures in non-league,” he said. “The pitches vary in quality. The crowds are smaller. These challenges create resilience for bigger stages.”

Brentford signed Raya for £3 million in 2019. Arsenal paid £27 million for him five years later following a loan spell. Since then, he has won the European Championship with Spain and helped Arsenal capture their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Now Raya stands ready for the ultimate club match. If Arsenal defeat Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, the keeper will complete a remarkable double. His former colleagues at Southport will watch with pride. As Carden said: “Nobody could write this story. That makes it so special.”