Former Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette has now completed his medical at Arsenal FC, and thus become the newest member of the Gunners. His deal is worth a club record €53 million ($68 million, £52.7 million), far outpacing the old benchmark set by the £42.4 million acquisition of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid in 2013.
His deal is now official, as the club have officially unveiled him as the newest member of the club.
Arsenal Manger Arsene Wenger said in a statement:
#LacaNewSigning ? pic.twitter.com/bo3qoZFCAU
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 5, 2017
“We are very happy to have Alexandre join our group. He has shown over a number of years that he can score goals and that he is a very efficient finisher. As well, he has very interesting technical qualities and a strong character. So he is a guy who is a great addition for us, and someone who will help us challenge at the top level this season.”
Lacazette will travel to Australia with the club this weekend, where he is expected to participate in a couple of friendlies in Sydney.
Finally, it’s the news you’ve all been waiting for#LacaNewSigninghttps://t.co/hChokRNpc1
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 5, 2017
You’ll never guess who… ? pic.twitter.com/4Owx2Bg17i
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 5, 2017
The club also says states that he could make his Gunners home debut in The Emirates Cup come July 29 or 30.
Obviously, a big deal such as this, for a player at the same position at Alexis Sanchez, invites speculation that the Chilean could now be out the door. Sanchez said this past weekend that he himself knows his future, and where it lies, but he refused to share that during the media session.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.