Arsenal have made their first signing in order to improve their team for the next season by aquiring the services of Borussia Monchengladbach’s Granit Xhaka on a long-term contract on Wednesday.
The transfer fee has been reported to be around $33.4 million.
An official statement released by the club read “Arsenal have reached an agreement with Granit Xhaka to join the club on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee,
Xhaka has completed his medical and will join up with his new team-mates after Euro 2016 (between June 10-July 10). The transfer is subject to the completion of regulatory processes, with Xhaka’s contract with Arsenal commencing on July 1, 2016.”
Xhaka captained the Monchengladbach’s team to a fourth place finish in the Bundesliga this season.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looked excited to welcome his new signing and said “Granit Xhaka is an exciting young player, already with good Champions League and Bundesliga experience.
We have been watching him for a long time now and he is a player who will add quality to our squad. We wish Granit a good Euro 2016 with Switzerland and look forward to welcoming him to Arsenal ahead of next season.”
The Swiss international has 41 international caps to his name and joined the Bundesliga outfit in 2012 from his youth club FC Basel.
Xhaka said joining Arsenal as “a dream come true” moment.
“When I was younger, even though I had a big brother, my parents would give me the house key every day.
It’s in my head that I am a leader and captaining Monchengladbach was very good for me.” said an excited Xhaka when asked how much captaining his former club helped him develop as a player and a leader.