France international Mathieu Debuchy has joined
Arsenal Football Club on a long-term contract for an
undisclosed fee.
The 28-year-old right back has just returned from the World
Cup in Brazil, where he helped France reach the quarter-
finals.
An experienced defender, Debuchy arrives from Newcastle
United, where he featured 46 times during an 18-month
spell. He spent the first nine years of his senior career with
French side Lille, where he made 233 Ligue 1 appearances
for his boyhood club and a further 18 in the Uefa
Champions League.
Debuchy helped Lille to a league and Coupe de France
double in 2010/11 and in the following season his
contribution was recognised by being named in the 2011/12
Ligue 1 Team of the Season. His performances also earned
him his international debut against Albania in October 2011,
and he now has 25 caps for France.
Arsène Wenger said: “We are delighted to welcome Mathieu
Debuchy to Arsenal Football Club. He has shown he can
perform at the highest level with his club sides and also for
France. He is a quality defender who has good Premier
League experience and I’m confident he will fit in very well
with us.”
Debuchy will join up with his new team-mates soon for pre-
season preparations and is expected to make his debut at
the Emirates Cup in the first weekend of August.
He said: “I’m very proud to be joining a great club like
Arsenal and to wear its colours, it’s one of the biggest clubs
in the whole world. I’m looking forward to working with
Arsène Wenger and to helping the team build on last
season’s FA Cup success. Playing again in the Champions
League is a big excitement for me and I will do my best to
help Arsenal compete for trophies.”
Debuchy’s Arsenal squad number will be revealed soon
through Arsenal’s official Instagram account @Arsenal.
Welcome to greatness. www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140717/arsenal-complete-mathieu-debuchy-signing. For his images in arsenal shirt click the link below. www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140717/pictures-mathieu-debuchy-in-arsenal-kit