Rice and Raya Send Messages to Arsenal Star Following Departure Announcement
Several players are departing Arsenal, and one young talent has expressed gratitude to the club after five years of service via social media.
James Hillson, a young Arsenal goalkeeper, shared an emotional farewell message on social media as his stint with the club concludes. Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Hillson would leave Arsenal when his contract expires on June 30. He is one of 22 players leaving the club, including notable senior players Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares.
Hillson initially joined Arsenal on loan from Reading during the latter half of the 2018/19 season, filling gaps in the U18 and U23 squads due to injuries to Tom Smith and Karl Hein. In July 2019, he officially signed with Arsenal. Although he never made a senior appearance, he frequently featured on the bench in Europa League matches.
Despite the lack of first-team minutes, the 23-year-old has regularly trained with Arsenal’s senior squad and has previously commended Aaron Ramsdale, David Raya, and Karl Hein for their guidance. As his time at Arsenal ends, Hillson expressed his appreciation on social media.
“Thank you to everyone at Arsenal, including the coaching staff, players, and everyone in between for making my last five years such a great experience,” Hillson wrote. “I’m excited to see where my next journey takes me.”
Several senior players responded to Hillson’s Instagram post with well-wishes. Declan Rice commented: “Been a pleasure brother, all the best mate.” Aaron Ramsdale added: “Good luck ledge.” David Raya wrote: “All the best mate.”
Interestingly, Hillson once played as a forward for Arsenal in a pre-season friendly against Boreham Wood. Reflecting on his training experience with the first team in November, he told Arsenal’s official website: “Training with the first team is intense and operates at a different level, which is fantastic because it constantly pushes you to perform at your best.
“As a goalkeeper, you can’t afford to relax or coast because you will get found out. The camaraderie among goalkeepers is incredibly supportive, and we all want each other to succeed. Players like Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya have been generous with their advice.
“Aaron, for instance, has helped me with footwork and positioning, and David has shared valuable insights about core body shape and being ready for shots. Karl, on the other hand, sets a really high standard with his work ethic, both on and off the pitch.”
