Official: Arsenal sign Calum Chambers
from Southampton
The 19-year-old, described as a "gamble" by Arsene
Wenger, will join the Gunners for an initial £10 million,
rising to £16m, and provide competition to Mathieu Debuchy,
Arsenal have completed the
signing of defender Calum
Chambers from Southampton
in a deal worth £16 million.
Goal revealed the Gunners'
interest in the 19-year-old earlier this month and,
after agreeing personal terms over the weekend, the
England Under-19 international becomes the fifth
player to leave St. Mary's this summer as the south-
coast outfit's firesale continues.
The teenager, who will cost an initial £10m, becomes
the latest Southampton academy product to move to
the Emirates Stadium, following in the footsteps of
Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
I am very happy to announce I have signed with
@Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/2SsFczTZY2
— Calum Chambers (@CalumChambers95) July
28, 2014
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers had also been keen
on bringing Chambers to Anfield, but the youngster
opted instead to sign for the north Londoners and is
excited about the prospect of working under Arsene
Wenger.
"I am so happy to be signing for Arsenal. They are a
team I have much admired for their playing style, and
a team who have been one of the top sides in Europe
for many years," he told the club's official website.
"I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you
to everyone at Southampton FC for everything they
have done for me and for making this move possible."
Chambers is expected to provide competition and
cover for Mathieu Debuchy, who joined the FA Cup
winners from Newcastle earlier this summer, and his
arrival could pave the way for Carl Jenkinson to join
Hull City.