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Arsenal have confirmed that Omar Rekik has joined the club in a deal worth £500,000.
The 19-year old was on the verge of completing a move from Hertha Berlin in the last transfer window, but time ran out before all the paperwork could be finalised.
He was born in the Netherlands, and has played for both them and Tunisia, the country of his parents, at youth level. He has also had spells during his youth career with Feyenoord, Manchester City, PSV Eindhoven, and Marseille. He never played for the Hertha first-team, although he did make their bench on several occasions.
Although he is highly rated in Germany, Arsenal regard him more as a long-term prospect and not somebody ready to challenge for a first-team place in the immediate future. He is described aa ball playing centre-half, comfortable on either side.
Rekik may now be sent out on loan in order to continue his development.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.