Premier League leaders Arsenal have completed a shock signing from their crosstown rivals Chelsea.
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The Gunners have confirmed the signing of Italian midfielder Jorginho from the Blues, with the 31-year-old calling time on his five-year stint at Stamford Bridge.
Welcome to The Arsenal, Jorginho ?? pic.twitter.com/jHXqAUBKKQ
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 31, 2023
The 2020 UEFA European Championship winner was entering the final six months of his deal in west London, and with Arsenal light as far as midfield cover for Thomas Partey was concerned, Mikel Arteta saw the Italy international as the best option to bring to the Emirates Stadium on deadline day.
The Spanish tactician reportedly tried to sign the Brazilian-born defensive midfielder in 2020, but a deal failed to materialise then, and Jorginho would go on to win the UEFA Champions League and the European Championship with club and country in the ensuing season.
Arteta was also at Manchester City when they tried to lure him away from Napoli, but Jorginho would instead opt to rejoin his former manager Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.
Now, the Basque-born tactician has got his man on a reported one-and-a-half-year deal.
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The 46-time Azzurri international now joins a long list of players who have traded Chelsea for Arsenal, with the likes of Petr Cech, Willian and David Luiz all making the move to north London in recent years.
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