Arsenal have completed the signing of Nuno Tavares on a permanent deal from Benfica on Saturday.
The London-based club secured the signing of the 21-year-old defender for a fee around €8million including add-ons.
The 21 year old defender has agreed a five-year contract with the new club.
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Arsenal have been hunting for a new left-back since the January transfer window when Kolasinac and Maitland-Niles both left the club.
Sead Kolasinac rejoined Schalke04 on loan and Ainsley Maitland-Niles joined West Bromwich Albion.
Tavares will now fill in the vacuum left in Arsenal’s defence line after Kolasinac exit.
He will likely be a back-up for Kieran Tierney, who has been excluded from Arsenal’s squad since he got injured at the end of last season.
Tavares created 23 chances with 4 assists in 25 Benfica League matches out of which 17 were starts.
Tavares’ said, “I’m so excited because it is a big club and for me as a young guy, it is a pleasure to be here.”
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“[Manager] Mikel [Arteta] and [technical director] Edu helped me so much.”
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said about the new signing; “We welcome Nuno to the club. He is a young player with great promise who has developed very well with Benfica in recent seasons and has also shown his quality by being part of Portugal Under-21s.”
“Nuno’s arrival will give the squad extra strength and options in defence, particularly with this energy on the left side of the pitch. “