Australian goalkeeper Maty Ryan has revealed former Arsenal teammate Martin Odegaard played his part in convincing him to sign for Real Sociedad.
Ryan joined the La Liga club in a permanent move this week from Brighton having spent the last six months on loan with the Gunners.
Odegaard was also brought to the Emirates on loan last season from Real Madrid having spent the campaign prior in Spain with Real Sociedad.
The Norwegian enjoyed a successful spell with the La Liga club scoring seven goals across 36 appearances and only had good things to say about Real Sociedad when Ryan came calling.
"I have spoken a lot with Martin Odegaard and he has told me many things about the club and all positive things," Ryan said at his first Real Sociedad press conference.
"I am looking forward to starting and being part of this family. I'm going to try to give everything I have to the club with my qualities as a goalkeeper.
"I come to work hard. We’ll see the opportunities that come out. You cannot achieve anything without hard work and without competing.
"With my experience, I hope I can help the team, which is on the right way. In recent seasons they have achieved many things.
"I hope I can contribute here at La Real with what I have, as a goalkeeper and as a person. I am here to help the team achieve our goals for this season, and to stay on the right way, as I said."
Having impressed fans by speaking largely in Spanish for his first media engagement with his new club, Ryan was quick to stress how excited he is to play in front of them after a challenging year without crowds.
"The fans are the heart of the club. They make the club bigger, also the team's performances at the matches," he said.
"With the atmosphere they create in the games they are like an extra player for us and we need them to help the team.
"With the pandemic, it has been very hard to play without fans. I really want to step on the grass, with the fans on the stadium supporting us, to see what we can achieve this year with them."
Real Sociedad kick off pre-season next week and begin their next La Liga campaign against Barcelona at Camp Nou on August 15.