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6 months ago
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Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale donned a hilarious Hagrid costume during a surprise appearance at the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Ramsdale was spotted in the stands watching Southampton's 1-0 victory against Leeds United on Sunday afternoon but looked unrecognisable.
Sporting a thick black beard and fuzzy wig, Ramsdale's comical attempt to copy the iconic look of Harry Potter character Hagrid was a resounding success.
He was first seen at BOXPARK Wembley but soon made his way into the Southampton end at the national stadium to take in a tense 90 minutes.
Ramsdale may have secured a ticket for one of the hottest seats in town to support his former Bournemouth team-mate David Brooks, who was forced off injured.
Aaron Ramsdale wore a Hagrid costume during the Championship play-off final at Wembley
Ramsdale was spotted in the stands supporting on Southampton's David Brooks, a close friend
A video taken from the stands showed Ramsdale, who had understandably ditched his stick-on beard in the sunshine, chatting to a nearby individual.
Adam Armstrong's first-half goal sent the Saints supporters into raptures and proved enough for the club to seal their return to the Premier League after a season away.
The result also saw them bank an estimated £180million payday - with the play-off final again taking the accolade of the most lucrative match in world football.
Ramsdale has endured a difficult season at the Emirates, having fallen behind No 1 David Raya in the pecking order and made just 11 appearances in total.
He has since been linked with a move away. Newcastle and Wolves are said to have expressed an interest in the stopper and his future remains uncertain this summer.
Arsenal's second-choice goalkeeper posed for a selfie with a supporter at BOXPARK Wembley
He was later recording chatting in the stands - minus Hagrid's bushy black stick-on beard
Earlier this season, Ramsdale openly admitted he enjoyed engaging with supporters while on the pitch during games because he cannot focus for a full match.
'If you ask me to focus on a game of football for 90 minutes I'm finished. I can't do it,' he told Ian Wright and UK rapper Bugzy Malone on Behind The Game.
'So that's why I get involved with the fans and I sing along with the songs. Someone's giving me abuse, I'll turn around and give them a bit back.
'I have had my two/three minutes of sort of madness in my head - straight back to the football. I've got 10/15 minutes of pure concentration again.
'Next thing you know, half-time is around.'
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