Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina moves to Napoli on season-long loan deal

Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina has completed a season-long loan move to Napoli.

The 29-year-old has been made surplus to requirements following the £19.2million arrival of Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen.

Leno is set to battle Petr Cech for the number one spot this season, meaning Ospina has been searching for a new club for some time with Besiktas initially leading the chase for his signature.

Standard Sport understands that Napoli will pay an initial €1m (£895,000) loan fee with an option to make the deal permanent next summer for around €4m (£3.58m).

Ospina has started just 27 Premier League games for the Gunners since arriving in a £3m deal from Nice in July 2014. He had been keen to leave in each of the previous two summers but was convinced to stay by then Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who handed him regular game-time in cup competitions.

However, new boss Unai Emery confirmed at a press conference last Friday that Ospina, who has two years left on his current contract, is now surplus to requirements and Napoli have sealed a deal before Italy’s transfer window closes.

Ospina is the second player to leave Arsenal for an Italian club on Friday, with youngster Stephy Mavididi securing a permanent move to Juventus.