Tommy Setford joins Stevenage on loan to gain valuable experience
Tommy Setford has secured a late move away from Arsenal as he has joined Stevenage on a season-long loan deal.
The young goalkeeper will spend the 2026/27 campaign with the League One side in a bid to gain valuable first team experience, something he would have been unlikely to come by if he remained with the Gunners.
He follows Ethan Nwaneri out the door as the second player to leave North London on a deadline day loan move with a desire for regular game time.
Following the arrival of Illan Meslier as the new third-choice goalkeeper, Setford had been expected to leave Arsenal on loan this summer, but it took plenty of time to get a deal done with the confirmation happening just hours before Tuesday's deadline.
The 20-year-old was initially expected to join Segunda División side Las Palmas as they had held a long-term interest for a number of weeks, but the potential deal collapsed on Monday night, prompting Stevenage to swoop in and sign the shotstopper as a replacement for Filip Marschall, who has joined Millwall.
Setford joined the Gunners from Dutch giants Ajax for a reported £800,000 in the 2024 summer transfer window and initially featured in the academy before receiving a promotion to the first team after spending significant time with the senior squad.
He has made two appearances for Mikel Arteta's side since his arrival, making his debut in a 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Preston North End in October 2024, and replacing Kepa Arrizabalaga off the bench in the late stages of a 4-0 FA Cup triumph against Wigan Athletic in February of this year.
Despite playing just twice so far, Setford has been an important part of Arsenal's goalkeeping setup during his time at the club, often featuring on the bench in the Champions League, as well as in the Premier League and domestic cup competitions.
However, Meslier's signing only decreased the youngster's chances for minutes further so a loan move to a lower league side is a perfect opportunity for him to prove his potential and make a case that he should be considered for the squad upon his return next summer.
It is highly unlikely that both Kepa and Meslier remain with the Gunners beyond this campaign so if Setford takes his chances and impresses while at Stevenage, he will have a chance to break back into the first team for the 2027/28 season.
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