Folarin Balogun has committed his future to Arsenal by signing a new long-term contract.
Announced via the club's social media channels as well as the official website, the 19-year-old has now put pen-to-paper on a new deal at the Emirates Stadium, thus ending all speculation regarding his future.
Balogun's previous deal had been set to expire at the end of the season and he was being linked with moves to the likes of RB Leipzig, Stuttgart, and Liverpool just to name a few.
However, Arsenal have managed to persuade the teenager to stay at the club and manager Mikel Arteta is delighted with the news.
"We have been extremely impressed with Flo this season," Arteta told Arsenal.com. "He has continually shown his natural ability in many training sessions with us and we have been equally impressed with his early integration into the first-team squad on matchdays.
"He has given us glimpses with the performances and of course with his two goals already for the first team.
"The hard work starts here for Flo and we are all looking forward to supporting and working with him in the years to come."
As mentioned by Arteta, Balogun has netted two senior goals this season - both in the Europa League against Molde and Dundalk in the group phase.
However, he's made just one first-team appearance across any competition in 2021 and that was against Slavia Prague in the second leg of their quarter-final tie earlier in the month.
With that said, technical director Edu has echoed Arteta's verdict on Balogun as he too outlined his vision for the young striker.
"It’s great that Flo will continue to be with us," Edu added. "He is a very promising young talent and has already shown so much quality in his performances.
"We are all looking forward to working with him during his continued development in the coming years."
Meanwhile, Balogun has set his sights on emulating Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe who have gone from the Hale End academy to regulars under Arteta.
"Bukayo [Saka] and Emile [Smith Rowe] have shown me that if you just stick at something for long enough, eventually it will pay off,” Balogun told Arsenal Media.
"I take huge inspiration from them. I thought both of them seemed ready when they were called up each and every time. I thought they definitely prepared, not just physically but also mentally, for the challenges. I think that's something I've learned from them."
