Arsenal close in on Mertesacker

Arsenal have revealed a deal for Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker has been agreed.

The fee for the 26-year-old, who has 75 caps for Germany, is believed to be in the region of £8million.

A statement read: "Arsenal has confirmed they have agreed terms with Werder Bremen to sign German international defender Per Mertesacker. The deal is subject to the completion of formal registration processes."

Mertesacker is relishing the challenge of the Premier League.

He said on Bremen's website, www.werder.de: "I had a great time at Werder, and I owe a lot to the club.

"The move to London is a wish come true, to take another step in my career.

"The English Premier League has for me always represented an interesting challenge."

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