Arsenal have confirmed the signing of striker Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruña for an undisclosed figure, although most news outlets are reporting the fee to be around £17m.
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Mustafi is Arsenal’s fifth signing after spending £100M on Granit Xhaka, Rob Holding, Takuma Asano and Lucas Perez, with his signing settling a few Arsenal fans’ nerves after a slow start to the season. “He’s got a good eye for goal and had an outstanding season previous year”, manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s official website. “And he has good experience”, Wenger added of the Euro 2016 semi-finalist.
It means that with just 11 hours remaining in the summer transfer window, only Manchester United and Manchester City, who have forked out £157.2m and £180.9m respectively, had spent more this summer than Arsenal. “We have taken a great player”.
The move was completed after Arsene Wenger announced that a deal had been agreed to sign the 24-year-old.
He will not link up with Arsenal until after the global break with Germany scheduled to play Finland and Norway on August 31 and September 4 respectively.
Arsenal completed a move for Spanish striker Lucas Perez as the clock ticked down towards Wednesday’s 2200 GMT deadline in the mid-year transfer window. “We had to work very hard to get these two signings done”. I’m very proud and happy to be here.
Perez netted 19 goals in all competitions for Deportivo last season including seven in as many games to equal the record of former Brazil striker Bebeto.
“I’m quite an aggressive player”. The German could make his competitive debut against Southampton on September 10th. As always in football, clubs have to evaluate what they need, but they showed interest when they got in contact.
The arrival of Mustafi was preceded by news of Calum Chambers’ season-long loan to Middlesbrough.
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“I know the club”. And would Arsenal fans have preferred a marquee signing in the vein of Pogba, or a collection of very strong additions like the ones they have made?
