Arsenal signed Nuno Tavares, 21 years old, for about 8 million pounds (11 million dollars) on a long-term contract. The Premier League team announced Saturday. The Portuguese under-21 is the first signing for Arsenal this summer.
Mikel Arteta on Nuno Tavares.
“We welcome Nuno to the club,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “He is a young player with great promise who has developed very well with Benfica in recent seasons. He has also shown his quality by being part of Portugal Under-21s.
“Nuno’s arrival will give the squad extra strength and options in defense, particularly with this energy on the left side of the pitch”.
The left-back who played against arsenal in UEFA Europa League last season will link up with Mikel Arteta and his squad after traveling to Britain and completing the quarantine requirements.
The Premier League team hasn’t stated the length of Nuno Tavares’s contract except saying it is a long-term contract.
Technical Directoer Edu on the new Signing.
Technical director Edu said: “Nuno is a talented young player who was wanted by several clubs across Europe.
“He will provide strong back-up in the left-back position. We look forward to him growing and developing with us and becoming an important member of the first-team squad.”
Nuno Tavares on his transfer to Arsenal.
“When I finished the season my agent told me that Arsenal was interested in me,” Tavares told the club’s official website.
“In the first instance I was very happy and after this, I dreamed about it, and [spoke about it] with my mum. I was so excited to be here, and now I’m here I’m so happy.
“I’m so excited because it is a big club and for me as a young guy, it is a pleasure to be here.
“Mikel [Arteta] and Edu helped me so much. They speak with me every time and call me and I feel people want me here. I like that because I need this power and I’m so grateful for this.”