By Daily sports on July 20, 2021
Arsenal have announced the signing of Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht on a long-term contract.
ESPN reported that Arsenal were close to agreeing a deal to sign the 21-year-old midfielder last month.
Lokonga made his senior debut for Anderlecht in 2017 after coming through the club's youth academy and made his breakthrough in the 2019-20 campaign with 26 appearances in all competitions.
He established himself as a regular under manager Vincent Kompany last season and featured 37 times across all competitions, also chipping in with three goals and three assists.
“Albert is a very intelligent player who has shown great maturity in his performances during his development,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “He has been coached well by Vincent Kompany and his team at Anderlecht. I know Vincent very well and he talks so highly about Albert and the positive impact he had to Anderlecht in recent seasons.
“We’re confident Albert’s ready for the next stage in his development and we’re looking forward to welcoming a new member to our squad with his quality and presence.”
Arteta is keen on strengthening his midfield options this summer with Dani Ceballos now back at Real Madrid, Granit Xhaka in negotiations to join Roma and s Lucas Torreira available for transfer. Meanwhile, Matteo Guendouzi has left to join Marseille.
Sources told ESPN the Gunners had scouted Lokonga for some time, dating back to before the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lokonga has been capped seven times at Under-21 level for Belgium and received a call-up to Roberto Martinez’s senior side in March but was an unused substitute.
He is Arsenal’s second signing of the summer following the arrival of defender Nuno Tavares from Benfica this month.
Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League last season and will begin their 2021-22 campaign at newly promoted Brentford on Aug. 13. (ESPN)
•PHOTO: Albert Sambi Lokonga
Source Daily sports
Posted July 20, 2021
You may also like...
Rivers won’t relent in NPFL title pursuit –...
FIFA name Happi, Ambomo to run Cameroon FA...
Swansea City, Brighton queue up for Onyekuru, meet...
Neville faults Iheanacho in United win over Foxes...
Oyebanji apologises to Ekiti athletes over NYG ‘embarrassment’...
Jorginho: Lampard Wasn’t Ready For Chelsea Job
AFN VP pledges N1.6m reward for C’wealth Games trials
Joshua warns Prenga ahead July 25 bout
Nigeria’s World Cup absence a big miss – Terry
NOC To Formally Launch Safeguarding Policy On June 16
Messi scores on injury return as Argentina beat Iceland in World Cup warm-up
Iwobi to join Yobo, Enyeama, Musa on 100 Nigeria caps
Omewa happy to open Falcons goal account
World Cup: Enyimba, Remo to benefit from FIFA’s $355m windfall
Nigerian-Born Stars Set to Shine in the US, Canada and Mexico
Omewa brace powers Falcons past Senegal
Joshua open to Itauma fight
NWFL Super Six: Edo Queens’ beat FC Robo 4-1
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,844 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,177 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,125 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,693 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,596 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,494 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,329 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,895 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,076 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,575 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,012 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,454 views)