Arsenal complete £32m signing of Manchester City star Oleksandr Zinchenko as the Gunners confirm their FIFTH signing of the summer and second raid on the Premier League champions this month
- Arsenal have announced that they have signed Oleksandr Zinchenko for £32m
- Ukrainian international leaves City after six-year spell and four league titles
- Deal represents Arsenal’s fifth signing of the summer and second raid on City
- Zinchenko is set to link up with his new team-mates on Arsenal’s tour of the USA
Arsenal have completed the signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City in a deal worth £32million.
The 25-year-old moves to the Emirates Stadium after a six-year spell with City, where he picked up four Premier League titles and a runners-up medal in the 2021 Champions League final.
The deal eclipses the £1.7m fee City paid Russian side FC Ufa for him in 2016 significantly and will earn them a hefty profit on the Ukrainian international, who still had two years to run on his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City
Zinchenko signs his long term deal with the club alongside Mikel Arteta (left) and Edu
Zinchenko is reunited with Arteta who previously worked with him while City assistant boss
Zinchenko told the Arsenal website: ‘First of all I would like to say this is a boyhood dream come true, because I was a massive fan when I was a kid.
‘Since Thierry Henry and young Cesc Fabregas was playing here, I was just enjoying watching those games, that Arsenal.
‘And obviously I started to love this club, so I am so excited and I cannot wait to play for this amazing club.
‘We’re so happy Alex has joined us,’ Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta added
‘He’s a player that I personally know really well and continued to follow him after my time at Manchester City.
Zinchenko has already touched down in Orlando, Florida to link up with his new team-mates
The left-back has admitted he is delighted to have joined the Gunners on a multi-year deal
The Ukraine star will now slot straight in to Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States
‘Alex is a high-quality player who will give us options and versatility. It’s not only about the positions he can play but as well, the versatility he will give us in attack and defence.
‘Alex is a person with great human qualities and character, and I’m delighted that everyone has made this huge effort to bring Alex to the club.’
In an exit interview with City, Zinchenko admitted leaving the Premier League champions was a tough choice and that he had already given a leaving speech to his now former team-mates.
He said: ‘I was not ready to be honest for this day especially when I gave a speech to the team. It’s been an unbelievable six years. I am so grateful to this great club. I wish Manchester City all the best. ‘
Zinchenko follows Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal after the striker’s £45m move two-weeks ago
Oleksandr Zinchenko leaves Manchester City with four Premier League titles to his name
Sportsmail reported that Zinchenko had left City’s training camp in the United States to undergo a medical and complete his deal with the Gunners – who are also on tour in America right now.
Zinchenko departs the Premier League champions having made 127 appearances, registering two goals and 12 assists, and will provide depth and competition in Mikel Arteta’s side at left-back along with Nuno Tavares and Kieran Tierney.
His move represents Arsenal’s second raid on City this summer after the £45m acquisition of striker Gabriel Jesus earlier this month.
Zinchenko is often deployed as a midfielder for Ukraine despite playing at left-back for City
The Ukrainian was a second-choice left-back behind Joao Cancelo under Pep Guardiola
Often deployed as a left back by Guardiola, Zinchenko takes up a more attacking role with the Ukrainian national team in midfield, but it remains to be seen how and where Arteta uses his new signing when the season kicks off on August 5.
Arsenal have been ruthless so far in the transfer window, with the capture of Zinchenko representing their fifth signing of the summer following deals for Marquinhos, goalkeeper Matt Turner and Porto’s attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira.
The move further cements Joao Cancelo’s position as City’s first-choice left back, but it remains to be seen whether the club now look to dip into the transfer market to provide the Portuguese star with back-up following Zinchenko’s exit.
