Arsenal striker Benik Afobe has joined League One side MK Dons on loan for the full 2014/15 season.
Afobe, who turns 22 next February, has had an impressive pre-season with both the Arsenal first-team and youth side, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win against Boreham Wood, as well as scoring two against Harrow Borough in an Arsenal XI friendly last week.
The loan deal will be Afobe's sixth spell away from the club since signing a professional contract four seasons ago, having been shipped out to Huddersfield, Reading, Bolton Wanderers, Millwall, and most recently, Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored two goals in the twelve games he played. The Wednesday deal saw him link up with fellow Arsenal youngster Damián Martínez, who spent the majority of last season at the Owls.
Afobe is yet to make an appearance for the Arsenal first-team, and may struggle to ever reach the squad, with the likes of Olivier Giroud, Yaya Sanogo and Alexis Sánchez becoming the top three striking options, with Chuba Akpom preferred in cup games.
The move comes just a week after Afobe taked to arsenal.com, describing how a loan move would benefit his future development:
“For the first couple of weeks of pre-season I was with the first team and it has been going well, but now I’m looking to go out on loan. I want to play week-in, week-out and have a first full season without injuries."
“I want to play week-in, week-out and have a first full season without injuries - that’s the plan. I’ve had a couple of injuries and I’ve missed two seasons of football. I’m only 21, and in footballing terms I’m still 19.
"I want to go out on loan and play 40 injury-costless games and improve as a player because, at the age of 21, you’re always getting better. I just to play want a full season."
