Arsenal have confirmed that they have signed 21-year-old left-back Nuno Tavares from Benfica, reportedly on a five-year deal.
Arsenal have made an official statement to confirm that they have secured the services of Nuno Tavares from Benfica. The Gunners have iterated that the 21-year-old left-back has penned a long-term deal, which is reportedly believed to be a five-year contract, with the transfer subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
Nuno Tavares has been with Benfica since 2015, joining the Portuguese giants’ academy as a 15-year-old. The player’s big break in the club’s first-team setup came in 2019 and he has since grown a fair bit as a promising left-back. By the end of the 2020/21 season, the 21-year-old has racked up 41 appearances for the Eagles, chipping in with one goal and seven assists along the way as well.
His progress at Benfica had duly been noted by some of the biggest clubs in Europe and ahead of the summer transfer window, Arsenal had emerged as the most viable contenders to sign Tavares. The interest from the Gunners made a lot of sense as well.
Last season showed that Arsenal need a solid backup for Kieran Tierney, who was sidelined at different periods of the campaign due to fitness issues. With the north Londoners choosing to loan Sead Kolasinac to Schalke, Mikel Arteta was forced to field Cedric Soares, Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka as makeshift left-backs.
Welcome to The Arsenal, Nuno Tavares ? pic.twitter.com/379qyLXrxG
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 10, 2021
Considering Kolasinac does not have much of a future at the Emirates, it was always going to be a prudent move for Arsenal to pursue a left-back this summer, with Nuno Tavares emerging as a viable target. Arsenal, in fact, made swift progress in pursuit of the 21-year-old, agreeing personal terms with him in no time.
So, it essentially became a matter of time before the English giants secured the services of the young defender, with the move now being confirmed. As per Arsenal’s official statement, Nuno Tavares has signed a long-term contract with them, with the reliable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano previously claiming that he would sign a five-year deal.
Meanwhile, Benfica have pocketed €8 million in exchange for his services. Upon the completion of the move, Mikel Arteta express his delight at the first signing of the summer for Arsenal, saying, “We welcome Nuno to the club. He is a young player with great promise who has developed very well with Benfica in recent seasons and has also shown his quality by being part of Portugal Under-21s.”
“Nuno’s arrival will give the squad extra strength and options in defence, particularly with this energy on the left side of the pitch. We look forward to Nuno’s arrival soon, his integration into the Arsenal family and playing in front of our fantastic supporters.”
Nuno Tavares is yet to formally complete his move from Benfica, with the transfer subject to the completion of regulatory processes. Arsenal, though, have surely secured the services of a fine new option for the left-back slot.
