Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Albert Sambi Lokonga from Belgian side Anderlecht.
With Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard both returning to the Santiago Bernabeu, Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi likely on their ways out, and Joe Willock potentially departing permanently, Arsenal know midfield reinforcements are desperately needed. Now, they have secured their first desired midfield signing.
Arsenal Seal Albert Sambi Lokonga Deal
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Club Confirm Arrival
Arsenal have officially revealed Lokonga as the Gunners’ latest addition. Mikel Arteta’s side bring in the 21-year-old midfield sensation as a player likely to make an immediate impact.
The fee for his signature is in the region of £15 million plus add-ons and a future sell-on fee, as per Fabrizio Romano.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Primed for Premier League Switch
Lokonga made his debut for the Belgian giants as an 18-year-old in January 2018, proceeding to play a total of seven top-flight matches that season after impressing in the UEFA Youth League. He continued his break into the first team the following season before a ligament injury sidelined him for the second half of the campaign.
His glimpses of excellence from before his injury became the common occurrence when he regained fitness for the 2019/20 campaign. The versatile midfielder, who primarily operates in the number eight and six roles, contributed four assists across 26 matches that season.
The most recent campaign saw Lokonga’s well-rounded playing style come to the fore to catch Arsenal’s attention. The talented passer and tempo setter started 37 of the club’s 44 matches, scoring three times and providing three assists.
Frequently drawing fouls and disrupting play with his tackling ability, despite his young age, Lokonga is able to boss the middle of the pitch. The Belgian impressed so much last season that Roberto Martinez called him up to the country’s provisional Euro 2020 squad. Lokonga was on their bench in a friendly against Greece just over one week prior to the tournament’s commencement.
From breaking into an impressive first team at a young age to already having the traits of a commanding midfielder, Lokonga joins Arsenal for a more-than-reasonable fee.
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