Arsenal: 8 Things You Didn't Know About Wellington Silva

Arsenal fans may finally get the chance to see Wellington Silva in action.

The 21-year old has at last been granted the Spanish citizenship required to get a work permit for the Premier League.

As per Ashley Clements of the Daily Mail, the Brazilian told reporters: "It's true. I can now go back to Arsenal from next season. I would be very happy if I could become an idol at a club like Arsenal. I will give my best to become a great player." 

The development means that Silva could be considered for the senior squad next season, years after initially joining the Gunners.

Read on to discover eight facts about the Brazilian starlet. 

He Began His Career with Fluminense

Silva's career started out with Brazilian side Fluminense, the same club that produced Rafael and Fabio da Silva for Manchester United.

In February 2010, he scored on his senior debut in a 5-1 win over Friburguense. 

He Was Spotted by Sandro Orlandelli

Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

Sandro Orlandelli heads up a specialist scouting team for Arsenal in South America. It was he who first spotted Wellington's potential.

Speaking to Brazilian radio station Globo (h/t Young Guns) in 2010, Orlandelli said: "Five players have been bought because of me. Denilson, Pedro Botelho, Damian Martinez, Carlos Vela, who was the first signing the club made under me, and also Wellington Silva, who is one of our biggest prospects for the future."

Those five players have had mixed fortunes at Arsenal. The club will hope Silva can prove to be the most successful of them all. 

He Scored 4 Times in His Trial Match

Silva's Arsenal trial came in December 2008.

Asked to play in a behind-closed-doors game for the academy side against Norwich, he made an immediate impression.

The Brazilian dazzled the Arsenal staff with a spectacular array of skills, scoring four times in a thumping victory. 

He Has a Nasty Habit of Wearing the Wrong Shirt

While at Fluminense, Silva incurred the wrath of the fans after being pictured wearing a rival shirt.

It doesn't end there, either.

Jon Cotterill of FourFourTwo explains:

"

Allowing himself to be photographed wearing the shirt of some of Fluminense rivals didn't go down too well. There are also photos of him in a Manchester United jersey, though when they were taken is unclear. He has at least been smart enough to use a picture of him in an Arsenal shirt on his Twitter profile.

"

Arsenal fans will hope his days of wearing United shirts are now well behind him. 

Arsenal Paid £3.5 Million to Get Their Man

Arsenal were so convinced of Silva's potential that they invested £3.5 million in him.

It's a significant outlay, and perhaps explains why the club have been so patient while waiting for him to earn a European work permit. 

He Has Already Played for 6 Clubs

Not many players have represented six different clubs by the age of 21.

Silva appeared for Fluminense back in 2010. In his wait for a work permit, he has subsequently played for Levante, Alcoyano, Ponferradina, Murcia and Almeria.

He'll now be desperate to add a seventh club to that list in Arsenal. 

His Squad Number for Arsenal Is 58

This season, Arsenal have given all their academy players their own squad number.

Silva's is 58.

You might think that's absurdly high, but young midfielder Elliot Wright wears 78, the highest in the squad! 

He Was Recently Called Up to the Brazilian U21 Squad

Silva recently won his first call-up for Brazil's under-21 international squad.

Understandably, he was delighted:

"

very happy for this moment in my life. 🙏

— Wellington Silva (@wsilva11) October 24, 2014"

The call-up suggests that, after a difficult few years, he is finally starting to fulfil his potential.