Arsenal sign Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City for £30m

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City in a £32m deal.

The Gunners have paid £30m up front with £2m in add-ons with the Ukraine international signing a long-term contract at The Emirates.

Zinchenko has already joined up with the Arsenal squad at their pre-season training camp in Orlando, with his squad number to be announced in due course.

Zinchenko spent just over six years at City after joining the club as a teenager from Russian side Ufa.

The 25-year-old, who was coached by Mikel Arteta during the Arsenal manager’s spell as assistant to Man City boss Pep Guardiola, can cover a variety of positions, including left-back and central midfield.

It is understood Arteta is excited about the prospect at working with Zinchenko again and values his versatility as a player.

Arsenal had been in the market for a left-sided defender and were trying to sign Manchester United-bound Lisandro Martinez from Ajax, who is set to join United in a £57m deal.

Zinchenko teams up with former City team-mate Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal after the Brazilian left the Etihad to move to north London earlier this month in a £45m deal.

Zinchenko becomes the Gunners’ fifth summer signing following the arrivals of Jesus, Marquinhos, Matt Turner and Fabio Vieira.

Following the arrival of Zinchenko, Arteta told the club’s official website: “We’re so happy Alex has joined us. He’s a player that I personally know really well and continued to follow him after my time at Manchester City.

“Alex is a high quality player who will give us options and versatility. It’s not only about the positions he can play but as well, the versatility he will give us in attack and defence.

“Alex is a person with great human qualities and character, and I’m delighted that everyone has made this huge effort to bring Alex to the club.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal technical director Edu revealed Zinchenko was a “main focus” this summer for the Gunners.

The Brazilian told the club’s official website: “I’m very pleased to see how we’re working as a team here in the club. We put a plan together early and Oleksandr Zinchenko was a main focus on our list.

“We’re pleased to have Alex with us now because he has the attributes which I’m sure are going to put our squad at a different level.”

Pep Guardiola has hailed the impact Oleksandr Zinchenko had at Manchester City and said the success the Ukraine international earns at Arsenal will be shared by his former club.

Ahead of Zinchenko’s move to the Emirates, the City boss said: “Like Gabriel [Jesus] and Raheem [Sterling], the impact of those three players in the years I am here has been massive.

“So we are going to miss them. They are exceptional players but, for different circumstances, they move on.

“Chelsea and Arsenal are two incredible clubs and the success and happiness they will have there will be ours.

“For myself and I think on behalf of the club, our gratitude for their effort and the way they behave on and off the pitch.

“It was nice yesterday with Oleks because we could say ‘bye’ properly. Unfortunately with Raheem and Gabriel we could not do it because it was the summertime, but yesterday at dinner together we could say ‘bye’ to him.”