Transfer Day: Arsenal complete Mesut Ozil deal

Arsenal have completed the signing of attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.

Breaking their own club record, the Gunners signed the 24-year-old for an un-disclosed, but a figure of £42.4m is being reported.

The German international is regarded as one of the finest talents in Europe and arrives in London after three successful seasons in the Spanish capital.

Ozil completed his medical on Monday in Germany, where he is with the national squad, and Arsenal say he has signed a long-term contract.

“I am thrilled to be joining a club of the stature of Arsenal and am looking forward to playing in the Premier League,” said Ozil.

“It will be great for my own personal development as a player and I am particularly looking forward to working with (manager) Arsene Wenger.

“From our negotiations it is clear the club has huge ambition and I look forward to being part of an exciting future.”

Wenger added: “We are extremely pleased to have signed Mesut Ozil.

“He is a great player, with proven quality at both club and international level. We have watched and admired him for some time, as he has all the attributes I look for in an Arsenal player.

“I have said throughout the summer that we have been working hard to bring in top quality players to this football club.

“This has involved many, many people across the club and I have always had the full support of the club in making decisions on the football side.

“Mesut is a top quality footballer who will be a fantastic addition to our talented squad. We are all looking forward to him joining up with us after his international matches with Germany and working with us as an Arsenal player.”

The Gunners have been criticised in the past for not spending heavily in the transfer market but they have now splashed out on a player with 47 Germany caps, who became available after Real completed the world record signing of Gareth Bale from Tottenham.