David Raya laced his gloves at Moss Rose in September 2014, a modest National League ground where Southport lost 3‑0 to Macclesfield. Thirty years later the Spanish shot‑stopper lines up for Arsenal in the Champions League final in Budapest against Paris St‑Germain, poised to become only the third player to rise from non‑league football to Europe’s biggest club stage.

Raya’s climb began in Blackburn’s academy after a youth stint at Catalonia’s Cornella. A loan to Southport gave him senior minutes, then he returned to Blackburn, earning a starting role in League One and helping the club bounce back to the Championship. Brentford paid £3m for his services in 2019, and Arsenal completed a £27m transfer five years later, quickly making him a fan favourite.

The final pits Raya against former non‑league peers Steve Finnan and Chris Smalling, who also made the rare jump to Europe’s summit. A steady presence for Arsenal this season, he kept five clean sheets in the league and featured in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph. Should Arsenal defeat PSG, Raya will cement a fairy‑tale ascent from non‑league to continental glory for the club and its supporters.