Arsenal have completed the signing of Iceland goalkeeper Alex Runarsson on a four-year contract from Ligue 1 club Dijon.
Runarsson is expected to deputise for first-choice goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, and will wear the number 13 shirt.
He’s brought on after Emiliano Martinez left Arsenal to join Aston Villa in a deal worth £17m.
The 25-year-old Iceland international joined the Ligue 1 club in July 2018 and made 13 appearances in all competitions last season.
“I’m just extremely happy, extremely proud, it is a big day for me and my family. I can’t wait to get started“, he tells Arsenal’s website.
“It is one of the biggest clubs in the world – they’ve won the Premier League (top division) 13 times, the FA Cup 14 times, it is a huge club and obviously playing in the Premier League as well, it is a win-win situation.
“I know it is going to be a lot of hard work, but I am ready to do everything I can to get the most amount of minutes as possible.”
Edu, Arsenal’s Technical director says: “We’re very pleased to welcome Alex to our squad. We have been monitoring him for some time and from the analysis, he has strong attributes that we look for in a goalkeeper and as a person.”
Mikel Arteta also adds: “We want to create healthy competition for places and we look forward to seeing Alex bring further depth to the goalkeeping position.”
Arsenal was considering Brentford goalkeeper David Raya as another option but the Championship club are refusing to sell any members of their squad other than Ollie Watkins, who joined Villa, and Said Benrahma.
Edouard Mendy set to join Chelsea in a £22m fee after having medical
Edouard Mendy will soon join Chelsea after his medicals. A £22m deal for the goalkeeper should be announced should the tests comes out great.
Frank Lampard is under pressure to bring in a new goalkeeper following two mistakes from Kepa Arrizabalaga from their opening two Premier League matches.
Mendy has been on Chelsea’s radar since before the start of the season and the club has been in talks with Rennes over the possibility of bringing Mendy to England.
The 28-year-old kept nine clean sheets in 24 Ligue 1 appearances last season.
Mendy will become Lampard’s seventh first-team summer addition, joining Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr, and Kai Kavertz
