Belgian Defender Thomas Vermaelen "Signs for Arsenal"

Senior Writer Written on June 03, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 23: Ajax defender Thomas Vermaelen celebrates after scoring the first Ajax goal during the UEFA Cup Group E match between Aston Villa and Ajax at Villa Park on October 23 2008 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Reports emerging today indicate that Arsenal have signed Ajax's centre-back, Thomas Vermaelen, for a fee close to 10 million pounds.

The Belgian defender has been linked persistently for the past few weeks with the North London club, and it now looks as if Arsene Wenger has got his man.

Vermaelen, 23, has been in impressive form for Ajax this season and hinted at a potential switch to an English Premier League side a few days ago: “I do not know much,” he said. “I hear [speculation], but I can say little about it. It would be nice, but I’m not there yet.

“The Premier League is attractive to me. We played against Aston Villa and the game was played the way it should be.

"For the public it is the number one sport.”

Update: Thomas Vermaelen has now confirmed that he is in fact on the verge of a move to Arsenal:

”In the coming days there will be more talks,” Vermaelen told Algemeen Dagblad. “Moving to Arsenal is the right path for me.

”It is a great sporting challenge and I will also be financially better off.

”I think everything is going to be okay.”

As always any announcement related to this transfer or otherwise will be made on Arsenal's official website.

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