Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Saint-Etienne defender William Saliba after facing competition for the defender from Tottenham Hotspur.
The 18-year-old will remain in France for another season on loan from the Gunners before becoming a first team player for the 2020/21 season.
Spurs sought to hijack a deal to sign the centre-back but missed out as the teenager agreed terms with their rivals.
According to Saliba, the decision was not hard to make given his affection for Arsenal as a childhood fan of the club.
"Well, the history, the badge," he said when asked about his choice in an interview with the club's official website .
"Since I was little, I've been watching Arsenal play in the Champions League and so on, and there are a lot of French players who have come through here.
"So that really helped me to make my mind up."
Meanwhile, Dani Ceballos has joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid for the season and will take up the number eight shirt left vacant by Aaron Ramsey's move to Juventus.
The Spaniard was also linked with Spurs this summer only to end up at the Emirates Stadium.
