Arsenal
have signed Jorginho from Chelsea in a Deadline Day deal worth £12m,
boosting their midfield ahead of a push for the Premier League title.
The 31-year-old Italy midfielder has signed an 18-month contract, with an
option to extend for a further year.
Jorginho was into the final six months of his Chelsea contract, with the
Blues trying to land a British record transfer for Benfica central
midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal tried to sign Jorginho from Chelsea in the
summer of 2020, just after he won the Champions League with the Blues and
the year before he lifted the European Championships with Italy.
Arteta was also the assistant coach at Manchester City when they tried to
sign him in 2018 - but Jorginho turned down the move to join Maurizio Sarri
instead at Chelsea from Napoli.
Speaking to the Arsenal website about Arteta, Jorginho said: "He was a big
influence because I know that he tried a few times to get me before and it
didn't happen due to other reasons, not because of my wishes.
"I'm very excited for this new challenge, and I just can't wait to be on the
pitch to be honest! Everything has happened so fast. I was a bit surprised,
but I took the opportunity of this amazing challenge."
Arsenal are short on options in midfield and revealed on Deadline Day Egypt
international Mohamed Elneny has suffered a "significant" knee injury.
A club statement read: "Following an injury sustained in a recent training
session, subsequent assessments have confirmed that Mohamed Elneny has a
significant injury to his right knee. Mo has had successful surgery in
London and will be ruled out for an extended period of time."
Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga is due to join Crystal
Palace on loan. There are also ongoing injury concerns over Thomas Partey,
who has picked up a rib injury.
The Gunners twice bid for Moises Caicedo in the final week of the January
window but Brighton remained adamant the midfielder was not for sale.
Analysis: Carragher positive on Jorginho
move
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
"With maybe 10 games to go in the season, when they might actually need cool
heads, when there is a pressure moment and the nerves are coming on in that
title run-in with seven or eight games to go, he may actually be a really
good signing in terms of slowing things down with a cool head.
"He is a player that has won the Champions League, he has won a European
Championship in the last few years, so he is a top player, there is no doubt
about that, but he is a different style of player.
"But I think that could be a big help for them towards the end of the season
as they get nervous."
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