Southampton have announced the signing of Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal, with the goalkeeper dressing up as Hagrid from the Harry Potter movies.
Rather hilariously, Ramsdale was spotted earing a Hagrid disguise during Southampton's play-off final victory against Leeds last season.
The goalkeeper subsequently revealed he had donned the outfit as he went to Wembley to cheer on winger David brooks, on loan at Saints at the time. The pair are close friends and it is their tradition to attend the play-offs in fancy dress, should one of their friends make it to play under the arch.
Ramsdale will join the south coast club in an initial £18million deal, with Southampton set to pay an additional £7m in add-ons.
The 26-year-old has agreed a four-year deal to stay at St Mary's and can extend his contract by an additional 12 months.
Ramsdale wore a Hagrid costume during the Championship play-off final at Wembley
It brings an end to his three-year stay at the Emirates stadium, after Ramsdale had been usurped as Mikel Arteta's first choice between the sticks by David Raya.
Speaking out today on his unique fancy dress choice, Ramsdale told the club: 'A group of my friends, we all play football and there's a couple of lads who don't, we've been twice before to watch our friend Harvey Gilmore play for Tranmere and Halifax,' he said. 'Both times we've done fancy dress.
'A group of my friends, we all play football and there's a couple of lads who don't, we've been twice before to watch our friend Harvey Gilmore play for Tranmere and Halifax,' he said. 'Both times we've done fancy dress.'
Ramsdale was spotted in the stands cheering on Southampton's David Brooks, a close friend
Saints announced his arrival on X (formerly Twitter) by the iconic movie character, writing: 'Yer a Saint, @AaronRamsdale98,' before writing in a separate post: 'Wizard of the window.'
Ramsdale made 89 appearances for Arsenal following his £26m transfer from Sheffield United in 2021.
He would go on to make 11 appearances in all competitions last season but will now get a shot at regular first-team football after Arsenal signed Raya on a permanent deal earlier this season.
'I'm absolutely delighted,' said Ramsdale told the club.
'The way the manager wants to play, the way he was when I spoke to him, he was just full of so much enthusiasm. I'd never met him before but he made me feel about eight feet tall, which is just what you want.'
Speaking on his lack of game time last season, he said: 'I've had the feeling of sitting on the bench and I don't want to do that again. Playing football, winning games of football, even getting draws away from home against big opposition or when your back's against the wall.
'When you see the fans' faces at the end and you know the joy it brings and also the joy it brings the squad on Monday morning after a scrappy late win away from home or a really grinded-out win against a tough opponent.'
Arsenal's second-choice goalkeeper posed for a selfie with a supporter at BOXPARK Wembley
He was later recording chatting in the stands - minus Hagrid's bushy black stick-on beard
Speaking on his choice of fancy dress for the play, Ramsdale said to Sky Sports News back in May: 'Any time one of our friends get to Wembley we do fancy dress, it's something we've done and we've won three times from it so we're not gonna break from tradition now.'
'To see what he's done over the past few years, what he's been through, to see him out on that pitch - coming off and seeing how distraught he was - but then to get the win was superb.'
More to follow...