Arsenal finalize Omar Rekik signing from Hertha Berlin

Arsenal have concluded the contract of Hertha Berlin’s Omar Rekik.

After composing a professional deal with the club, the 19-year old will join the Gunners’ Under 23s team.

Bild notes Arsenal agreed to pay Hertha about £ 540,000 to land the center-back who, before joining the German side, had periods in the youth academies of Feyenoord, PSV, Manchester City and Marseille.

On Thursday, Arsenal director Mikel Arteta announced that the arrival of the defender was almost complete, telling reporters at a press conference: “He’s a young talent that we’ve been following for a while that we believe has a really bright future.”

Tunisia Under 21 has yet to make its senior debut, having played frequently with Hertha Berlin II in fourth-tier German football this season, but was an unmitigated catastrophe in last season’s three Bundesliga matches.

“It feels wonderful to be now after a long time of hard work. It feels great. I moved in three weeks ago and I’ve been in isolation, so I can’t wait to start,” Rekik told Arsenal’s website.

The warmth of the people and the interest they showed in me, and, of course, I don’t think anybody needs to think twice when they’re interested in a club like Arsenal.

“I’m a winner. I always like to win, and that’s with anything and everything, not only football, ever since I was a kid. My style of play? I’m a central defender and I like to control the ball, I like to play out from the back, and I think it’s also the structure of the club. It fits perfectly.”

Rekik says the playing style of Arsenal played a key role in his selection to begin his career in North London.

Rekik, first arrival of the January transfer window on the north London side, was connected with a move to the English capital in the summer transfer window, but the move did not materialize.