Arsenal Sign Chambers, Jenkinson Joins West Ham

Arsenal have completed the signing of 19-year old defender Calum Chambers from Southampton for an initial fee of £7m which could rise to £12m based on performances.

Chambers’ arrival at the north London club comes just as 22-year old Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson completed a season-long loan move to Premier League rivals West Ham United, having come close to joining Hull City in a permanent deal.

Chambers made 22 appearances in the Premier League for Southampton last season and is described by Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger as ”gamble” and a ”player for the future”.

He represents the fifth player to leave Southampton in this transfer window following the exits of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren to Liverpool as well as Luke Shaw to Manchester United.

And the versatile defender, who plays in right-back, centre-back and central midfield, could be joined at the Emirates Stadium by another Southampton player Morgan Schneiderlin after Arsenal reportedly enquired for the French midfielder.

For Arsenal, Chambers is the fourth signing of the club following the arrivals of Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona, French defender Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle United and Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina from French club Nice.