► Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez signs for Arsenal in £30million deal
► Sanchez leaves holiday early to fly to London for medical with Gunners
► Sanchez signs four-year deal worth up to £140,000-per-week
► Wage will see 25-year-old match Mesut Ozil as Arsenal's top earner
► Newcastle right-back Mathieu Debuchy set to sign with medical on Monday
► Deal opens up Barca's £75m swoop for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez
I will give my best to Arsenal. I'm so happy to be here! Sanchez completes £30m move in deal that will net Chile's World Cup star £140,000-a-week... and pave the way for Suarez to join Barcelona.
Alexis Sanchez - the man Arsenal believe can fire them to the Premier League title - has sealed his £30million move from Barcelona. The Chile superstar, who cut short his holiday to finalise the transfer in London, completed a medical and agreed a four-year contract - with the option of a further 12 months - worth up to £140,000-per-week. The move paves the way for Barcelona to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool.
Alexis Sanchez - the man Arsenal believe can fire them to the Barclays Premier League title - has sealed his £30million move from Barcelona.
The Chile superstar, who cut short his holiday to finalise the transfer in London, completed a medical and agreed a four-year contract - with the option of a further 12 months - worth up to £140,000-per-week. The package will put him on a par with current top earner Mesut Ozil.
'I’m so happy to be joining Arsenal, a club which has a great manager, a fantastic squad of players, huge support around the world and a great stadium in London,' said the 25-year-old.
'I’m looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and to be playing for Arsenal in the Premier League and Champions League.
'I will give my best to Arsenal and want to make all the supporters happy.'
The deal paves the way for Liverpool's Luis Suarez to replace him at the Nou Camp, with a sum of £75m touted for the Uruguayan striker.
Ever since Arsene Wenger discovered Sanchez was available, the Chile international has been his No 1 summer transfer target.
And Wenger was purring after his first signing of the summer, adding: 'As many people have seen during the World Cup this summer, Alexis is a fantastic footballer and we are delighted that he is joining us at Arsenal.
'Alexis will add power, creativity and much quality to our squad and we are all looking forward to him joining up with us in a few weeks. He has consistently produced top-quality performances at the highest level for a number of seasons now and we are all excited to see him integrate into the Arsenal squad. I’m sure all Arsenal supporters will join me in welcoming Alexis to our club.'
Sanchez will improve Arsenal’s attacking options, which already include Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud, and Theo Walcott.
Sanchez will be joined at Arsenal by Newcastle right back Mathieu Debuchy, who will arrive in a deal worth £11million.
The pair will be expected to help the north London club maintain a title challenge this season after a fourth-placed finish last term.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta, speaking ahead of the club’s official Puma kit launch, said Arsenal’s new signings will help them build on May’s FA Cup win over Hull.
The Spaniard said: ‘All the top clubs will be strengthening and it is going to get even more difficult.
‘If we start very well again, people will say: “Arsenal will tire by February or March”.
'The only thing that will change that is if we get to that stage and go through it and win it.’
Arteta reiterated his intention to extend his stay at Arsenal.
The midfielder has 12 months left on his current deal and will hold talks once Wenger returns from Brazil next week.
‘I’m really happy here,’ added Arteta.
Alexis Sanchez - the man Arsenal believe can fire them to the Premier League title - has sealed his £30million move from Barcelona. The Chile superstar, who cut short his holiday to finalise the transfer in London, completed a medical and agreed a four-year contract - with the option of a further 12 months - worth up to £140,000-per-week. The move paves the way for Barcelona to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool.
Alexis Sanchez - the man Arsenal believe can fire them to the Barclays Premier League title - has sealed his £30million move from Barcelona.
The Chile superstar, who cut short his holiday to finalise the transfer in London, completed a medical and agreed a four-year contract - with the option of a further 12 months - worth up to £140,000-per-week. The package will put him on a par with current top earner Mesut Ozil.
'I’m so happy to be joining Arsenal, a club which has a great manager, a fantastic squad of players, huge support around the world and a great stadium in London,' said the 25-year-old.
'I’m looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and to be playing for Arsenal in the Premier League and Champions League.
'I will give my best to Arsenal and want to make all the supporters happy.'
The deal paves the way for Liverpool's Luis Suarez to replace him at the Nou Camp, with a sum of £75m touted for the Uruguayan striker.
Ever since Arsene Wenger discovered Sanchez was available, the Chile international has been his No 1 summer transfer target.
And Wenger was purring after his first signing of the summer, adding: 'As many people have seen during the World Cup this summer, Alexis is a fantastic footballer and we are delighted that he is joining us at Arsenal.
'Alexis will add power, creativity and much quality to our squad and we are all looking forward to him joining up with us in a few weeks. He has consistently produced top-quality performances at the highest level for a number of seasons now and we are all excited to see him integrate into the Arsenal squad. I’m sure all Arsenal supporters will join me in welcoming Alexis to our club.'
Sanchez will improve Arsenal’s attacking options, which already include Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud, and Theo Walcott.
Sanchez will be joined at Arsenal by Newcastle right back Mathieu Debuchy, who will arrive in a deal worth £11million.
The pair will be expected to help the north London club maintain a title challenge this season after a fourth-placed finish last term.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta, speaking ahead of the club’s official Puma kit launch, said Arsenal’s new signings will help them build on May’s FA Cup win over Hull.
The Spaniard said: ‘All the top clubs will be strengthening and it is going to get even more difficult.
‘If we start very well again, people will say: “Arsenal will tire by February or March”.
'The only thing that will change that is if we get to that stage and go through it and win it.’
Arteta reiterated his intention to extend his stay at Arsenal.
The midfielder has 12 months left on his current deal and will hold talks once Wenger returns from Brazil next week.
‘I’m really happy here,’ added Arteta.
