Young Southampton teenager Alex Oxlade Chamberlain has completed his transfer to Arsenal, ending months of speculation. The Gunners have signed him for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around £12m upfront, with £3m in addons. The fee is a record received by Southampton for a player. Arsenal also announced on their official website that Oxlade Chamberlain had signed a contract for an undisclosed period.
Oxlade- Chamberlain, who turns 18 next week, is rated as one of England’s most promising footballers and was contracted to the Saints til 2013. The youngster, who netted nine times last season for the South Coast club, is often compared to Theo Walcott, who coincidentally also moved from Southampton to Arsenal early in his career. Manchester United and Liverpool were both reportedly interested in signing Chamberlain, but Arsenal’s policy of blooding young talent ensured that they were always ahead in the race to sign him.
Oxlade-Chamberlain becomes Arsenal’s third summer signing after Carl Jenkinson and Gervinho. The Gunners’ first Premier League game is against Newcastle next week.