Arsenal signs Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos
Arsenal has made its first signing of the January transfer window, nabbing Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos from PAS Giannina.
The Gunners announced the move Thursday with a statement on their website. The 20-year-old centre-back amounts to the first addition under recently appointed head of recruitment Sven Mislintat.
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Arsenal did not disclose the transfer fee, though the Guardian's Marcus Christenson and Antonis Oikonomidis report that the youngster joins the north London ranks on a £1.9-million deal.
Mavropanos has made 16 Greek Super League appearances this season after breaking through with the first team. Known as a no-nonsense centre-half with a penchant for aerial duels, Mavropanos is unlikely to play for Arsenal's senior side this season, and reports link the Greece Under-21 international with a possible loan.
"He has a lot of potential," Greece Under-21 boss Antonis Nikopolidis told the Guardian. "He is young and very strong. His physicality is a big asset and essential for him to be successful in the Premier League. He's a player who is constantly developing, and he has made tremendous progress over the last few years.
"Apart from being very strong, he is also very effective in the air, relatively quick, and a player with great personality."