Lucas Torreira joins Arsenal from Sampdoria

Lucas Torreira has joined Arsenal from Sampdoria

Arsenal have signed Uruguay international midfielder Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria for £26m.

The 22-year-old, who played in all five of his country’s World Cup matches before the quarter-final defeat to France, will wear the number 11 shirt.

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“In Lucas Torreira we have signed a young player who is a very bright talent in the game. A midfielder with great quality,” Unai Emery said.

Torreira will join on a five-year deal in August after a post-World Cup break.

His move is still subject to “regulatory processes” but he is set to become Emery’s fourth signing since succeeding Arsene Wenger as manager.

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“He is a young player already with good experience, but who wants to keep on growing,” added Emery.

Former Valencia and Paris St-Germain boss Emery has also brought in goalkeeper Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen, defender Stephan Lichtsteiner from Juventus and defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund.

France under-20 international Matteo Guendouzi, 19, is also undergoing a medical with the club and is expected to sign from Lorient.

Torreira, who plays as a defensive midfielder, broke into Italian club Pescara’s first team in 2014-15 and then played for the club on loan after signing for Sampdoria in July of 2015.

He eventually made his Serie A debut for Sampdoria in August 2016 and made 71 appearances across two seasons.