Arsenal sign Calum Chambers from Saints for undisclosed fee

Premier League fourth-favourites Arsenal (6/1) have announced the signing of young right back Calum Chambers for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £16m, from Southampton. The move comes the day after another Saints defender, Dejan Lovren, joined Liverpool.

The Gunners stated on their official website: “Calum Chambers has joined Arsenal from Southampton on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.”

Chambers, 19, becomes Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer, after Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy and David Ospina. He joins following Bacary Sagna’s departure to Manchester City earlier in the transfer window.

Writing on his Twitter page, Chambers said: “I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone at Southampton FC for everything they have done and for making this possible.

“I’m looking forward to joining up with my new team mates today and beginning preparation for the season ahead. Thanks for all your messages.”

His new manager, Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, was very happy with his latest addition. “We are very pleased that Calum has agreed to join us,” he said.

“The way he adapted to the Premier League last season with Southampton at a young age shows that he has tremendous quality. He has a lot of the attributes that we look for in a young player and I am sure that he will do well with us.”

Teenager Chambers, who is an England Under-19 international, managed 22 league appearances for the Saints last term, always at right back, but is also adept to playing other positions. “He can play at centre back, right back and central midfield,” Wenger added. “I hope he will give us competition for the players in these three positions.”

Manager Wenger, though, admitted: “He hasn’t played many games, no, but the English players on the market in England are very expensive and at the end of the day I was ready to take a gamble because he is a player for the future.”

Chambers becomes the third Southampton signing by the Frenchman during his tenure at Arsenal, after also bringing Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the club. Walcott, meanwhile, Tweeted: “Great to meet Calum Chambers and looking forward to working with him.”