English giants Arsenal have confirmed the signing of highly-rated Wales Under-21 international Aaron Ramsey from under the noses of Premier League rivals Manchester United and Everton for a fee in excess of £5 million.
The talented 17 year-old midfielder has been signed on a long-term contract from Championship side Cardiff City and will now be nurtured by one of the world's best managers in Arsene Wenger.
Despite Arsenal coming up short domestically and in Europe for the past few seasons, Wenger has made the talented and promising youngster his first signing of the off-season rather than a proven world-class player many pundits feel the Gunners require to challenge the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea for the Premiership crown.
Ramsey is the youngest player ever to represent Wales at Under-21 level in a 4-3 victory over Sweden Under-21s in August 2007 and has already received call ups to the full Welsh squad for their friendly international matches in Iceland and Holland, but was an unused substitute on both occasions.
His last match for Cardiff City was a spectacular cameo role in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth. Despite playing as a substitute, he delighted the crowd with his mazy runs and wizardry on the ball in the showpiece final.
Manager Arsene Wenger was delighted the youngster opted for the Gunners over other potential suitors and said: “We’re delighted to have signed Aaron Ramsey. He is a young player who has shown huge potential with his performances for both Cardiff City and Wales at under-17 and Under-21 levels. He is still only 17, but has already shown that he is a very intelligent and mature player with great quality. Although he mainly plays in midfield, Aaron is a versatile player and can also play across the defence. We are all looking forward to welcoming Aaron to the Club for our pre-season preparations.”
The player said that meeting Arsene Wenger and his track record for nurturing young talent was a big factor in his decision to join the club
Aaron Ramsey said: “I’m so happy to have signed for Arsenal. I am joining one of the biggest clubs in the world and can’t wait to meet my new team mates. I recently met with Arsène Wenger and he was a big factor in my decision to join Arsenal. He talked to me for a long time about the Club and the plans for the future, which really excites me. Arsenal is a Club which always gives young players an opportunity at the highest level of the game and I am going to work my hardest to be part of future successes here.
“It was a really difficult decision to leave Cardiff City, they are my local club with great supporters and I would just like thank everyone at Cardiff City for their support and help in my early career. I will still look out for their results and there will always be a place in my heart for the Bluebirds.”
[Source: Arsenal]
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