Arsenal have finalized the signing of forward Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna.
The announcement was made by the club on Tuesday after the 27-year old successfully completed a medical.
Perez has joined the Gunners for a reported £17.1 million that will see him serve the club until 20.
The Spaniard becomes Arsenal’s third high profile acquisition of the summer, following the arrival of Granit Xhaka [Borussia Monchengladbach] and Shkodran Mustafi [Valencia].
Early life
Born Lucas Perez Martinez on 10 September 2021 in A Caruna, Spain, he spent his youth career with Alaves, Montaneros and Ordenes before joining Atletico Madrid’s third seed team in 2007.
He left for Rayo Vallecano two years later, working his way up until he broke into the first team.
Chances were few and far between and evidently, the forward departed and spent the following years of his career in Ukraine and Greece before returning back to his home country in 2014, this time with Deportivo.
Panic buy or a marquee signing?
Arsene Wenger is not one to shy from making last minute signings, and this summer hasn’t been particularly different.
Having proved himself in Germany and Spain, the £42.4 million Arsenal churned out for Mesut Ozil has turned out to be a steal, given the midfielder’s contribution to the team in seasons gone by.
But how will Lucas Perez compare to the ‘panic buy’ that was Ozil?
Although uncapped for the Spanish national team, Perez is a seasoned goal scorer at club level, as he found the back of the net 17 times for the La Liga side last season.
Lucas Perez may be no Zlatan, but he was for the longest time Arsene Wenger’s back up plan for Jamie Vardy.
Given the high tempo and brutal physicality of the Premier League, he might need time to adjust to the English game before he can begin banging in the goals.
Whether he will reduce Olivier Giroud to a starter in the dugout however remains to be seen.
Written by Brian Humphrey
Follow Brian on Twitter @brihum
Like O-Posts on Facebook
You can also follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts