David Raya, Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, has extended a warm farewell to Karl Hein following the confirmation of the Estonian’s permanent move to Werder Bremen. The transfer was officially announced on Saturday, bringing an end to Hein’s eight-year association with the north London club.
Responding to Hein’s emotional Instagram post, Raya wrote: “All the best Karlitos, wish you nothing but the best, pleasure to have shared dressing room with you.” The Spaniard’s words reflected the close bond forged between the two goalkeepers during their time together at Arsenal.
Hein, 24, spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Bremen and will now join the Bundesliga side on a permanent contract in July 2026. In his farewell message, he paid tribute to Arsenal for nurturing his development from a teenager into a senior professional. “Where do I begin…eight beautiful years with this amazing club has come to an end,” he wrote. “It was a genuine privilege to be part of a club like @arsenal for such an extended period.”
The Estonia international, who has 45 caps for his country, also expressed gratitude for the support he received during his loan spells at Reading, Real Valladolid, and Bremen. Arsenal’s statement said: “Karl Hein will finalize a permanent move to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in July 2026. We express our gratitude to Karl for his contributions… and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
Hein made his first-team debut for Arsenal in a Carabao Cup tie against Brighton in 2022 and has since accumulated valuable experience across different leagues. Bremen confirmed that Hein would become their new number one, with Mio Backhaus moving to Freiburg. The German club’s announcement highlighted that Hein, despite recent injury struggles, is expected to play a key role in their squad next season.