Arsenal have completed the signing of highly-rated teenager Krystian Bielik from Ekstraklasa side Legia Warsaw for an undisclosed transfer fee.
The Poland youth international, 17, can play centre-back or in defensive midfield, and made six first-team appearances for Warsaw this season.
Bielik will start with the Gunners’ reserves, but is expected to be called up to the senior squad in the near future.
“He’s a defensive midfielder, he is 6ft 2ins, he has a good energy level and a good technical level,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
“Is £2m a lot of money? It is less than that but yes, it is a lot of money for a player if he doesn’t succeed. If he does succeed, it’s cheap.
“Of course, it’s a gamble. But on what we saw, it’s a gamble worth taking.”
Additionally, Warsaw boss Henning Berg told Sky Sports that Bielik is a terrific prospect.
“He’s a physical player with good skills,” Henning said. “He has very good understanding of the game and match mentality. Krystian is quite far ahead of other players at his age.
“He’s a talented boy, at his age he is further forward than a lot of kids. He’s got high potential and that is why Arsenal are buying him.
“He’s only played maybe four or five games for us but his development has been very, very good. He’s a good physical player with good technical ability who can get box-to-box. His decision making is very, very good for a kid of his age.
“He will join a club with good players and good coaches – I really hope they look after him really well and don’t send him on loan to too many places because he needs to be among players.
“He has a lot to improve but he has got big potential – Arsenal has a good record with kids and I am sure Arsenal will get the best out of him. Ideally we would like to have kept him for a couple more years. If they look after him he will be a good player. If everything doesn’t go according to plan he can always come back to us.”
Arsenal will look to build on their impressive 2-0 win away to Manchester City when they travel to The Amex to take on Brighton Hove & Albion in the FA Cup fourth round at the weekend.
In other news, Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Stromsgodset for the transfer of Norway international starlet Martin Odegaard.
Odegaard had been attracting interest from several of Europe’s top clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United.
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