Stevenage are in discussions with Arsenal over a deadline-day loan for goalkeeper Tommy Setford. This follows the confirmed departure of their number one, Filip Marschall, who has signed for Championship side Millwall for an undisclosed fee. The League One club, currently 21st in the table with three points from four games, faces a quick turnaround ahead of their next match away to Barnsley on September 5th.
Tommy Setford is a 20-year-old goalkeeper who joined Arsenal from Ajax. He has made two senior appearances for Mikel Arteta's side, playing in the Carabao Cup against Preston North End and coming on as a substitute in an FA Cup tie with Wigan Athletic. Stevenage have moved into pole position for a loan deal after Arsenal signed Illan Meslier on a free transfer, a move designed to free Setford to seek regular football elsewhere. The young keeper is also an England Under-21 international, and a spell in League One is viewed as the next logical step in his development.
Arsenal had previously been in talks with Spanish club Las Palmas, but those negotiations stalled. The Gunners are now seeking a more suitable loan destination before the transfer window closes. With Stevenage's need for a goalkeeper becoming urgent following Marschall's exit, the Hertfordshire club has emerged as the front-runner. Nothing is officially signed yet, and Arsenal are still weighing their options with multiple clubs reportedly involved.
Millwall announced the signing of Filip Marschall from Stevenage on a long-term contract. The 23-year-old goalkeeper becomes the Championship club's 11th signing of the summer transfer window. Millwall's director of football, Steve Gallen, told the club's website they had been monitoring Marschall for a couple of years. "He had a great season last year at Stevenage and fits the model that we are trying to develop here," Gallen said.
Marschall rose through Aston Villa's academy and had loan spells at Gateshead, MK Dons and Crewe Alexandra before joining Stevenage in 2025 after being released by Villa. He played a key role in helping Boro reach the League One play-offs last season. His departure creates an immediate vacancy between the posts for Stevenage, who have conceded five goals in their opening four league matches.
Steve Evans's side find themselves in a challenging spot early in the campaign. They are 21st in the League One standings with three points, having drawn three and lost one of their first four fixtures. Their recent form reads DDLD, and they have scored four goals while conceding five, giving them a minus-one goal difference. They currently sit seven points behind early leaders Huddersfield Town.
The team's next test is a difficult away trip to face Barnsley, who are fifth in the table. That match is scheduled for Saturday, September 5th. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page. The need for defensive solidity is clear from the early data, and the new goalkeeper, whether it is Setford or another target, will be expected to help shore things up quickly.
The immediate focus for Stevenage is preparing for the trip to Oakwell Stadium with a new goalkeeper likely to be in the squad. The swift resolution of the Marschall transfer and the concurrent pursuit of a replacement highlights the frantic nature of deadline day. Integrating a new player at such a key position with minimal preparation time will be a test for the coaching staff.
The club's league position adds pressure to get a positive result against a Barnsley side flying high in the table. Every point is valuable as they look to climb away from the lower reaches of the division. Supporters can follow the latest league table on our standings page. The fixture at Barnsley kicks off at 15:00 on September 5th.
