ARSENAL have confirmed the shock signing of £21million defender Jakub Kiwior.
Spezia’s Poland star follows Brighton winger Leandro Trossard as the second January recruit for Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders.
The 22-year-old was at the Emirates on Sunday for the Gunners’ 3-2 defeat of Manchester United.
He completed a medical the following day and is thought to have penned a contract until 2027, with the option of a further year.
Kiwior is the type of left-sided centre-back Arteta has long wanted.
And the Spaniard said: “It’s great that Jakub is joining us.
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“He’s a young versatile defender who has shown huge potential and qualities with Spezia in Serie A, and also at international level with Poland.
“Jakub is a player who will give us strength and quality to our defensive unit.”
Kiwior, 22, was in Anderlecht’s academy before spells in Slovakia with Zeleziarne Podbrezova and MSK Zilin.
But it’s since joining Italian top-flight club Spezia in 2021 that his career has taken off.
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Arsenal sporting director Edu revealed the club had been “monitoring” Kiwior “for a while”.
Edu added: “We are now all looking forward to seeing his continued development with us.”
Kiwior will add depth to the Premier League leaders, who have been eyeing another left-footed centre back.
Having seen top target Mykhailo Mudryk go to Chelsea instead in a £97m move, the Gunners’ only other newcomer this month has been £27m Trossard.
The Belgium ace impressed in his instant debut, a 10-minute cameo at the weekend in which Arsenal snatched victory over the Red Devils through Eddie Nketiah’s second goal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
