Arsenal have completed their second signing of the summer, acquiring Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht on a long-term contract.
Lokonga will wear the number 23 shirt and the Gunners have paid a reported £15 million to snap up the highly-rated prospect.
Mikel Arteta has been looking to bolster his midfield since their 8th-placed finish in the Premier League, with Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard returning to Real Madrid and Granit Xhaka seemingly set for the exit door.
Lokonga has been a sensation under Vincent Kompany at the Belgian club, ending the season as captain.
The midfielder broke through into the senior Anderlecht set up as a teenager and was given his debut in November 2017.
The Brussels-born talent played 78% of available minutes in the Juliper Pro League last term, in which his side finished fourth.
Lokonga usually plays in a defensive role and enjoys progressing the ball forward, scoring two goals and laying on three assists over the course of the most recent campaign.
He was also called up to the senior Belgium squad by Roberto Martinez in March 2021 but is yet to be capped.
Arteta raved about Lokonga, telling Arsenal media : "Albert is a very intelligent player who has shown great maturity in his performances during his development.
"He has been coached well by Vincent Kompany and his team at Anderlecht. I know Vincent very well and he talks so highly about Albert and the positive impact he had to Anderlecht in recent seasons," explained the Spaniard.
"We’re confident Albert’s ready for the next stage in his development and we’re looking forward to welcoming a new member to our squad with his quality and presence."
Lokonga himself said: "It's a big move because I have been playing for Anderlecht for 10 years so it's going to be my first big move to another country.
"It's a big step, but I feel confident because we have to be. In the football world, you have to feel confident about yourself, but I'm looking to play in this league and I can't wait to start."
On his preferred position, the 21-year-old stated: "I can play as a six and I can play like a box to box, but people say that I’m better in the six position."
Where will Lokonga fit into Arteta's team for the new season? Comment your XI below.
On departing his boyhood club, Lokonga admitted to Anderlecht's website : "I’m making a move from one big club to another. I am proud of this new step, but also sad that I am leaving RSCA.
"I want to thank you for all the love I have always received here. I am a mauve for life."
Gunners Technical director Edu added: "We are delighted Albert has signed with us, as there was a lot of interest in him and he was a big target for us.
"Albert is a player we’ve been tracking for some time, and he will bring us strength in depth in the centre of midfield."
"We look forward to his continued development with us."
The new Emirates arrival will join up with his new team-mates in the coming days once he has completed the current isolation regulations for international arrivals into the UK.
Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ben White is also set to make the move to north London after a £50 million deal was agreed with the Seagulls for the 23-year-old England international.
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