Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley has signed a three-year deal with Swansea City after the two sides agreed on a transfer fee rumoured to be in the region of £1 million, Sky Sports understands.
Bartley joined the Gunners from Bolton Wanderers in 2007. He made his club debut on 9 December 2009 in the UEFA Champions League group stage against Greek Superleague giants Olympiacos, a match Arsenal lost 1-0.
The 21-year-old centre-back spent last season on loan at Rangers, making 20 appearances (19 starts) in all competitions for the Teddy Bears.
Bartley decided to move on to pastures new just one year after inking a contract extension at the Emirates Stadium.
“I spoke to Arsene Wenger briefly last week and he said that my game-time would be at a minimum,” the former England Under 17 international told Swansea’s official website.
“For that reason, I wanted to at least go out on loan but when Swansea came in for me it was too good an opportunity to turn down.”
Swansea will start their 2012-13 English Premier League campaign on Saturday, 18 August 2012, when they are scheduled to take on Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, while Arsenal will play host to Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.
Bayern can afford €40m Martinez
Bayern Munich chairman Uli Hoeness has revealed that the next few days will be absolutely crucial to finding out if Javi Martinez will join the Bavarian giants from Athletic Bilbao in the 2012 summer transfer window, Sky Sports reports.
Martinez has been on Bayern’s radar all summer long, but the 2011-12 Champions League finalists have reportedly been put off by the €40million release clause in the Spaniard’s contract, and rightfully so.
“I think we may find out in the next few days if this transfer is to happen or not,” Hoeness told Deutsche Presseagentur.
“Nothing has been agreed yet. I would be delighted to see the deal go through.”
Should the two sides reach an agreement, Martinez will join the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos in the Bavarians central midfield.
Martinez registered 31 league appearances (30 starts) for Bilbao last term, tallying four goals and one assist.
Naughton inks new deal
According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur right-back Kyle Naughton has been rewarded with a new four-year contract.
Since joining Spurs from Sheffield United in July 2009, Naughton has only made four appearances for the north London club.
Despite his lack of first-team football at White Hart Lane, the former England Under 21 international has impressed on several loan spells with Middlesbrough, Leicester and Norwich.
Naughton should get more playing time at Spurs in 2012-13, but do not expect him to leapfrog Kyle Walker in Andre Villas-Boas’ pecking order anytime in the near future.
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