David Raya's Unrecognisable Appearance After Facial Surgery
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya now sports a dramatically different look following reconstructive surgery for a severe facial injury he sustained back in 2018. The Spanish shot-stopper, who joined the Gunners permanently in 2024 for £30 million from Brentford, has left football fans in disbelief with his transformed appearance, which recently resurfaced in a viral social media post.
The Horror Collision That Changed Everything
The incident occurred while Raya was playing for Blackburn Rovers, when he collided with then-West Brom striker Jay Rodriguez during a match. The collision was so severe that Raya was hospitalised immediately, with then-Rovers manager Tony Mowbray describing the injury in graphic detail to BBC Sport.
"The players were feeling sick with what they saw," Mowbray revealed. "He is in hospital. The bone at the top has been pushed into the skull almost and the nose is sort of hanging off really. The players could not look at it, it was that bad."
Raya wore a protective mask for two weeks upon his return to action but delayed surgery until the end of the season to avoid missing games. In November 2018, he explained his decision to the Lancashire Telegraph, stating: "It's not impeding me to breathe or anything and if I had the surgery now, I would be out for six to eight weeks."
Social Media Reaction to Raya's Transformation
A recent post on X (formerly Twitter) showcased side-by-side comparisons of Raya at age 29 and when he was just 19, prompting widespread reaction from supporters who noted he appears significantly younger post-surgery. Comments ranged from "What a glow up" to "The glow up is insane," with one fan joking: "Broke his nose and he aged backwards," and another expressing disbelief: "Ain't no way that's Raya."
Many fans are only now discovering that Raya's changed appearance stems from this traumatic injury, with the goalkeeper now 30 years old and playing a crucial role in Arsenal's Premier League title challenge this season.
Perspectives from Those Involved
Jay Rodriguez, now playing for Wrexham, expressed his devastation about the incident at the time, telling reporters: "It's not nice to see. I was chasing the ball, I tried to get out of the way but I've caught him with the top of my foot. I've been told he's gone to hospital and I'm gutted about that."
Despite the initial severity, the injury proved less critical than feared, though it did leave Raya with a permanently altered nose structure. After nearly 100 appearances for Blackburn, Raya moved to Brentford where his impressive performances over four seasons caught the attention of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Raya's Journey to Arsenal Stardom
Arteta brought Raya to Arsenal initially on loan in 2023 before making the move permanent the following season. The goalkeeper has since become a vital component of Arsenal's title-chasing squad, with the Gunners set to face Brentford on Thursday evening as they look to extend their lead at the Premier League summit.
While Raya's facial transformation continues to surprise fans, his on-pitch performances remain consistently excellent, demonstrating how professional athletes can overcome significant physical trauma to excel at the highest level of their sport.
