Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Illan Meslier on a free transfer following his exit from Leeds United.
The goalkeeper joins on a two-year deal with the option to extend by a further year.
Meslier had endured a difficult final season at Elland Road, losing his place to Lucas Perri and then Karl Darlow, and not playing a single game in any competition.
According to the Daily Mail, the 26-year-old turned down the chance to become first choice elsewhere.
Championship side Birmingham City wanted to make him their number one but were unable to match Arsenal’s offer.
But it turns out Meslier is an Arsenal fan, and has been ever since one player was signed by Arsene Wenger in 2010.
Illan Meslier reveals his favourite Arsenal player growing up
Answering quickfire questions with Arsenal’s official media, Meslier was asked for his favourite Arsenal player growing up.
“Laurent Koscielny,” he said. “He came from Lorient, you know. That’s obviously my hometown so I’m a big fan of Lorient.
“I was very happy when he joined Arsenal and then I started following Arsenal.”
Koscielny joined Arsenal from Lorient in the summer of 2010, going on to make 353 appearances for the club and captaining the side during some of the most turbulent years in the club’s recent history before his controversial exit in 2019.
On his day, he was a top-quality defender, and was arguably the best of the Emirates era before William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes established themselves.
You can only choose one: Current Gabriel Magalhaes or Prime Laurent Koscielny?
Meslier would have been 10 at the time, growing up in the same city, watching a Lorient player make that move to one of England’s biggest clubs.
Meslier himself had joined Leeds from Lorient on loan in the summer of 2019, the same year Koscielny left Arsenal.
He went on to make 215 appearances for the Yorkshire club across seven seasons, winning promotion to the Premier League twice before eventually losing his place and moving on.
Now he arrives at the Emirates initially as third choice behind David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga, though Kepa’s future remains uncertain.
The signing will allow 20-year-old Tommy Setford to leave on loan to aid his development.
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