Oleksandr Zinchenko, a versatile player from Ukraine, has officially joined Arsenal from Manchester City.
After the parties reached an agreement on a £30 million deal, which includes a £2 million add-on, the 25-year-old took a flight back from City’s preseason tour of the USA to finalise the transfer.
He is the London club’s seventh summer acquisition and has a long-term contract with them.
“This is a boyhood dream come true, because I was a massive fan when I was a kid,” said Zinchenko.
“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.”
Zinchenko, who plays mostly in the midfield for his country, mostly played left back for the Blues last season as Pep Guardiola’s team defended its Premier League crown. However, he only appeared on 15 times.
He claims to have discussed his position with Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, but he would like to keep the specifics “private.” He continues, “If the manager tells me one day I need to be goalkeeper, I will be there.”
When the Arsenal manager was a member of the coaching staff at Manchester City, Zinchenko worked with Arteta, and he claims the interaction was “the most significant factor” in his choice to join.