Arsenal have completed a deadline day deal to sign Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Mikel Arteta has been intent on adding further quality to his defensieve options following the arrival of Ben White and Nuno Tavares this summer and Arsenal accelerated their pursuit of
Tomiyasu in the final hours of the transfer window.The Gunners will pay an initial fee of around £17million – plus £2.5m in easily achievable add-ons – for Tomiyasu’s signature and the 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract in north London.
The Japan international is primarily a centre-back but also provides cover at right-back and his versatility proved a key factor for Arsenal, with Hector Bellerin completing a season-long loan move to Real Betis.
‘Takehiro is a strong defender with good experience in Serie A and at international level,’ Mikel Arteta told Arsenal’s official website.
‘He’s a versatile defender with great defensive qualities, high technical ability and composure on the ball. He will be an important member of our squad.
‘We look forward to Takehiro joining up with us when he returns from international duty.’
Arsenal technical director Edu added: ‘We’re delighted to have signed Takehiro.
‘We’ve been watching him for a while now and we’re pleased that we have reached an agreement with Bologna. He is an important addition to our squad.’
Tomiyasu had been heavily linked with Tottenham earlier this summer, with Arsenal’s bitter rivals even holding talks with the Japanese’s camp prior to his participation at the Olympics.
However, Spurs instead ramped up their move for a more out-and-out full-back in Barcelona’s Emerson, who completed a switch to the Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £26m this evening.
Tomiyasu’s arrival takes Arsenal’s expenditure this summer to a total of around £140million, the most of any club in the Premier League. The ex-Bologna star becomes the Gunners’ sixth new arrival of a busy window, following White, Tavares, Martin Odegaard, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Aaron Ramsdale through the doors at the Emirates.MORE : Willian’s agent takes swipe at Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal ‘project’ after leaving club
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