Eddie Nketiah has opted to join Leeds United on loan, spurning interest from a host of clubs in the Championship and Europe.
Arsenal striker Nketiah is set to undergo a medical in Yorkshire this afternoon and will spend the season on loan at Marcelo Bielsa's side, who beat the likes of Bristol City, Charlton Athletic and Augsburg.
For most of the window Bristol City were convinced that Nketiah would be heading to Ashton Gate but the late intervention of Leeds' hierarchy last night secured the signature of one of England's most highly-regarded young prospects for The Whites.
The 20-year-old striker enjoyed an impressive pre-season, prompting Gunners head coach Unai Emery to say during the pre-season tour of the USA that he planned to keep Nketiah in his first team squad for the new season.
However the £72million signing of Nicolas Pepe only added to the weight of numbers, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, ahead of Nketiah in the pecking order and Arsenal felt they could not guarantee him the regular game time he needs to progress at a young age.
He is likely to get that at Leeds, who sold first-choice striker Kemar Roofe to Anderlecht for an undisclosed fee.
Nketiah has made 19 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions since his debut in 2017, scoring on three occasions including a first Premier League strike on the final day of last season, a 3-1 win at Burnley.
Arsenal still have Nketiah firmly in their long-term plans and the forward is dreaming of a great future in north London.
"My aim is to challenge for the No. 9 shirt," he told football.london earlier this summer.
"I've done the best I could during the off-season to make sure I'm fit. I'm aiming to have a great season and playing reguarly.
"My hopes are to just keep playing regularly. I hope that's at Arsenal. I want to play for Arsenal I want to play for the first team as striker."
