Premier League giants Arsenal have confirmed the first winter addition to the club’s squad, in the form of starlet Omar Rekik.
Rekik, a central defender who can also play in midfield, had long been viewed as one of the most highly regarded young talents in Germany.
The stopper previously spent time honing his craft as part of the youth setups of all of Feyenoord, Manchester City, PSV and Marseille.
With brother Karim, who has since departed the German capital to join Sevilla, having been on the books of Hertha Berlin, though, Omar opted to link up with the Bundesliga outfit in the summer of 2018.
And it was with Die Alte Dame that Rekik went on to showcase exactly what a top defender he looks primed to develop into.
Highlighting just how impressive the teen’s performances have been over the last couple of years is the fact that, despite his tender years, Rekik has already established himself as a senior Tunisian international.
In turn, it came as little surprise to hear of interest in the gifted stopper’s services begin to mount this past summer.
Chief among a host of clubs tipped as admirers of Rekik’s talents, meanwhile, were Premier League giants Arsenal.
As such, it no doubt came as music to the ears of the Gunners faithful when, late last year, word began to spread that their side were not only stepping up their interest, but closing on a deal for the Hertha starlet.
In fact, some outlets went as far as to claim that an agreement was in place to take Rekik to the Emirates in January.
And, as outlined above, such claims have today proven to be spot on.
In a post across the club’s social media platforms a short time ago, Arsenal announced that the 19-year-old, described as ‘a ball playing centre half who can play on both sides’, has put pen to paper on professional terms with the club.
Rekik is set to join up with the Gunners’ U23 side, where he will spend the remainder of the campaign developing under Per Mertesacker.