Wellington Silva
Arsenal
are understood to have agreed a £3.5million move for highly
rated 16-year-old Brazil forward Wellington Silva.
The Gunners have tracked the Fluminense teen sensation for more
than a year and took him on trial in December 2008.
Wellington impressed in London, scoring four in a youth match
against Norwich, and Arsenal subsequently tracked him at the Under
17 World Cup and Under 17 South American Championship.
The player's agent, Rodrigo Pitta, said: 'We completed the
transaction last week, the player is already Arsenal's and
Fluminense have already received some money.'
Wellington cannot join up with Arsene Wenger's side till his
18th birthday in January 2011, but Arsenal are believed to have
paid 65 per cent of the fee up front, with the rest to follow when
he arrives at the Emirates Stadium.
Future team-mate: Arsenal's Robin van Persie and
Wellington (below) in the Dutchman's No 11 shirt
The Brazil youth international celebrated the move by
posing in an Arsenal shirt with his name above Robin van Persie's
No 11 shirt, posting the photograph on his web page.
He is considered one of the most promising players of his age
group in the Brazil and has already secured endorsement deals.
Manchester
United, Chelsea,
Atletico and Real Madrid have all been linked with the player, but
Arsenal's long courtship appears to have paid off.