Arsenal have added a fourth signing already this summer, with the latest confirmation of Uruguay international Lucas Torreira in a €30 million.
Arsenal have continued their recruitment spree this summer with the acquisition of Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria in a deal worth €30 million. Torreira becomes the latest to join the Arsenal wagon, and the 22-year-old is understood to be the last major signing for the club in this window.
Arsenal are understood to have struck a deal before the World Cup itself, as Torreira’s contract consisted a release clause of €26 million Euros, but Arsenal have seemingly paid more than that sum to secure the services of the player as quickly as possible. They are rumoured to be spending the €30 million in three instalments.
Torreira has been in the ranks of Sampdoria since 2015, during which time he also spent time on loan at Pescara. He leaves Sampdoria after making 74 appearances for them in Serie A, including an astonishing 29 games last season. He was growing into an influential force in the team before Arsenal came calling.
The Gunners had seemingly lacked in a specific style of midfielder who could help them control games defensively, but for some seasons now they didn’t have such a player in their team. Torreira brings in much of the quality Arsenal currently need in midfield.
His move was touted to happen sooner, but due to his World Cup commitments, the deal only happened now. Torreira was however given a chance to get done with his medical while in Russia but refused the offer to keep his focus on Uruguay’s World Cup campaign.
However, Arsenal can count themselves lucky to have wrapped up a deal of this sort in such a quiet manner. The kind of performance he’s had in Russia would have definitely had an impact on his demand and would have led to a bidding war. Instead, Arsenal secured him early on by agreeing to a package with Sampdoria as well as with the player himself.
At the World Cup, he was one of the best players for Uruguay and his performance against Portugal got him the most plaudits. He was a rock for Uruguay during that game and expertly nullified the threat of Cristiano Ronaldo all throughout the game. Overall he made five appearances during the campaign in Russia.
Torreira will wear the No.11 shirt, recently vacated by Mesut Ozil to take on new West Ham signing Jack Wilshere’s No.10 shirt. He comes at the back of a brilliant World Cup performance wherein he helped his side reach the quarterfinals of the tournament. Current Semifinalists France eventually beat them, but Torreira personally had an excellent competition in Russia.
