Petr Cech becomes Arsenal first signing of the summer transfer window after the 33-year-old goalkeeper made the move to the Emirates from London rivals, Chelsea, for an estimated fee of £11 million pounds.
The Petr Cech transfer saga has been a tale that has taken many back page headlines in recent weeks, and today the saga comes to an end as the Czech shot stopper signs for Arsenal. Cech was linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain as well as being heavily linked with a move to the Emirates, but the North London club have beaten the Parisians to the punch, signing the world-class keeper from their Premier League rivals.
Journey to the Emirates, via Stamford Bridge
Cech joined the Blues in 2004 from Rennes, and the Czech 'keeper has without a doubt been one of the best goalkeepers to ever perform in the Premier League. Cech has been an essential part of the Chelsea team that went on to win three Premier League titles, and Cech was in goal for Chelsea, as the Blues became the first London based team to win the Champions League in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Bayern Munich.
However the emergence of Thibaut Courtois for Chelsea at the start of last season meant that Cech found himself on the bench for the Premier League champions last season, only featuring in cup games and a handful of league games.
The signing of Cech is one that Arsenal fans will be singing about for the remainder of the transfer window, as Cech has been the one goalkeeper Arsenal fans have been crying out for. The futures of Wojciech Szczesny and David Ospina are currently up in the air, but with Cech likely to take the number one spot, either Szczesny or Ospina could be sold by the club.
Cech will certainly not be the only signing Arsenal make during the transfer window. The Gunners are still searching for a defensive midfielder and a striker is also meant to be on Arsene Wenger’s list.