Arsenal finalises Sokratis' move from Dortmund

Dortmund's Greek defender Sokratis celebrates after scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund on December 12, 2017 in Mainz. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel ROLAND / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050
DANIEL ROLAND / AFP / Getty

One of the transfer window's worst-kept secrets has finally come to fruition.

Arsenal announced Monday that it has completed a move for Greek international centre-half Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund on a long-term deal for an undisclosed fee.

Reports suggest that the 30-year-old is arriving at the Emirates Stadium for a £17.6-million fee.

With Laurent Koscielny nursing a torn Achilles and Per Mertesacker put out to graze as a member of Arsenal's academy staff, Sokratis is likely to start alongside Shkodran Mustafi in central defence. He'll be the second Greek centre-half in the Gunners' first team, joining January signing Konstantinos Mavropanos at the Emirates Stadium.

Sokratis enlists with the north London lot following a five-year spell at the Westfalenstadion, where the 79-time-capped international won the DFB-Pokal in 2016-17.

XRedditFacebookWhatsAppEmailSMS
MORE STORIES