OFFICIAL: Arsenal sign Ozil from Real Madrid

Sep 2, 2013 10:30:00 PM

The Germany international finalises his move to the Emirates Stadium after completing a medical at his national team's base on Monday, hours before the transfer deadline

By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Arsenal have announced the club-record £40 million signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.

As revealed by Goal, the Germany international sealed his move on Monday afternoon after passing the second part of his medical in Munich.

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The playmaker will earn £130,000-a-week at the Emirates Stadium on a five-year contract after Madrid gave the green light to his departure, becoming the north Londoners' highest earner as well as their record signing by some distance.

Ozil underwent final medical tests in Germany as he was due to meet up with Joachim Low's national team for the international break.

"I look back with pride on three wonderful years at Real Madrid in which I've developed as an athlete and a person," Ozil told Sky Deutschland. "We won three titles and I was a regular.

"But now I look forward to my future in the Premier League with Arsenal.

"In talks with Arsene Wenger, I immediately sensed what has been missing for me. I will pay back this trust to the club and the fans in each game. Now I want to help the club to finally win a title."

Manager Arsene Wenger told the club's official website: "We are extremely pleased to have signed Mesut Ozil. He is a great player, with proven quality at both club and international level. We have watched and admired him for some time as he has all the attributes I look for in an Arsenal player.

"I have said throughout the summer that we have been working hard to bring in top-quality players to this club. This has involved many many people across the club and I have always had the full support of the Club in making decisions on the football side.

"Mesut is a top-quality footballer who will be a fantastic addition to our talented squad. We are all looking forward to him joining up with us after his international matches with Germany and working with us as an Arsenal player."

"This is an exciting day for all of us," added chief executive Ivan Gazidis. "We have signed a world-class player who is one of Europe's brightest young talents.

"Mr [Stan] Kroenke, our controlling owner, has always fully supported Arsene and the club in making significant investments to strengthen our squad and to bring in talented players who fit our style and ambitions." ---------------------- goal.com