afc Lukas Podolski

[TF S4DK]

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that a deal has been agreed to sign German international striker Lukas Podolski on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

The Polish-born attacker will team up with the Gunners in the summer ahead of the 2012/13 season from Bundesliga side FC Cologne, where he has been in fine form this season, netting 18 times in 28 league appearances.

After spending his early years training and playing with FC Bergheim 2000, the 26-year-old joined the youth set-up at Cologne in 1995, before making his first-team debut in 2003. After three successful seasons with Cologne he moved to Bayern Munich in 2006. He spent three seasons with Bayern before re-joining FC Cologne in 2009 and is now regarded as one of the leading strikers in the Bundesliga.

Podolski has made 95 appearances for Germany and scored 43 goals since making his debut as a 19-year-old in 2004. He made a huge impact with a series of impressive performances at the 2006 World Cup, where he scored three times and followed this up with three more goals at Euro 2008.

Podolski was also part of the Germany team that produced a number of eye-catching displays at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, including a goalscoring contribution in the 4-1 win over England in Bloemfontein in the last 16. He also featured for ‘Die Geißböcke’ in the pre-season friendly against Arsenal at the RheinEnergieStadion last July.

Manager Arsène Wenger said: “We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas and see him as an important part of our future. He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level. He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options.

"We are happy to have made this signing early and we are looking forward to watching Lukas contribute at the European Championship over the summer, a level where he has already made 95 caps at the age of 26. That is a phenomenal record and just shows his quality as a player.”

Speaking about his move, Podolski said: “I’m so happy to be joining Arsenal Football Club and to play in the Premier League. Arsenal is one of the top clubs in Europe with a huge history. There are many top quality players at Arsenal and the style of football which the team plays is fantastic. I’m proud to become an Arsenal player and am looking forward to playing my first match at Emirates Stadium and doing my best for all the Arsenal fans.

“I am looking forward to becoming an Arsenal player, but at the moment my focus is with my current club, FC Cologne. I will give everything I have until the end of season to make sure the team finish as high as possible in the Bundesliga. There will always be a place in my heart for FC Cologne.”

Everyone at Arsenal looks forward to welcoming Lukas to the Club in the summer.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-agree-deal-for-podolski

[Mr. Gayle]

Hmmm lets hope he does well, didnt have a good time at Bayern.

[Drift]

alright, from when its on the ARSENAL site im happy.

thought this was gonna be another hatem trabelsi

[MrJibbles]

Hmmm lets hope he does well, didnt have a good time at Bayern.

He was young and has grew as a player.

Far better than what we have in wide positions.

[Seydou]

Rather see his name on the bench than Chamack.

Dont even fakking care what he brings.

[Taurus]

95 caps? Rah

[The Somalian]

exactly what we need on that left side

[Seth Rollins]

Bench?

LMFAO, you must not rate Podolski. AT ALL. This is a BIG signing. BIG.

[Lenny]

Bench?

LMFAO, you must not rate Podolski. AT ALL. This is a BIG signing. BIG.

[O Fenomeno]

Hmmm lets hope he does well, didnt have a good time at Bayern.

He was young and has grew as a player.

Far better than what we have in wide positions.

I don't about growing up, Poldi is still immature and prone to picking up silly cards.

The guy is a diva,fiery might be a bad thing for your dressing room I still remember when he slapped Ballack

Anyways apart from RVP he is a major upgrade on your current attacking players.

[mark_INIESTA_davies]

don't about growing up, Poldi is still immature and prone to picking up silly cards.

The guy is a diva,fiery might be a bad thing for your dressing room I still remember when he slapped Ballack

Anyways apart from RVP he is a major upgrade on your current attacking players.

:/

[TF S4DK]

Podolski will explain Arsenal move at press conference on Wednesday - 1130 BST at Cologne's Rhein Energie Stadion #fckoln #afc

[TF S4DK]

"When I went to Munich I was perhaps a little too young," said Podolski. "Now I'm more experienced and more mature, I believe in myself more and I'm sure things will work out for me over there.

"When I received the offer I quickly realised it was the right path to take. Arsenal are undoubtedly a huge name in football with a great coach and a fabulous stadium."

[mark_INIESTA_davies]

Don't know why but this signing feels like some sort of massive break through?

Anyone else get this feeling?

He really is a massive name joining us but I would never have thought we could go into such a Universally dominant footballing nation & attract there best and most prominent forward?

Really surprise & so happy.

This is a sign that we're now seen as a proper club worldwide.

What a wierd feeling this is, come on Wenger!

[Benicio del Toney]

Don't know why but this signing feels like some sort of massive break through?

Anyone else get this feeling?

He really is a massive name joining us but I would never have thought we could go into such a Universally dominant footballing nation & attract there best and most prominent forward?

Really surprise & so happy.

This is a sign that we're now seen as a proper club worldwide.

What a wierd feeling this is, come on Wenger!

Calm down fam, you're going on like you just signed Mario Gomez.

He is a great talent and I will enjoy seeing what he can do in the Premiership.

[mark_INIESTA_davies]

Calm down fam, you're going on like you just signed Mario Gomez.

Lukas Podolski has done more for German Football than Gomez.

Mario hasn't got a patch on Lukas.

You're gassed.

Surprised you didn't mention Giovanni Elber or Adiltion or something

[Benicio del Toney]

lol Elber was a fucking big player.

The point is Podolski isn't at the height of his fame so it's a coup but not an uncoupable coup, a smart 1 nevertheless.

[Seydou]

"Tottenham wanted to sign me in January but I had no idea who they were." - Lukas Podolski

Did he actually say this?

[mark_INIESTA_davies]

lol Elber was a f*ck*ng big player.

The point is Podolski isn't at the height of his fame so it's a coup but not an uncoupable coup, a smart 1 nevertheless.

Signing Podolski is like Arsenal signing Rooney, Xavi, Totti

[O Fenomeno]

[TF S4DK]

The Arsenal fans on here know whats happening right now. Lol.

[Mr. Gayle]

Bench?

LMFAO, you must not rate Podolski. AT ALL. This is a BIG signing. BIG.

Hmmm, we wil see im under whelmed TBH.

Certainly wouldnt say a BIG signing

[Lenny]

Podolski is a huge upgrade on all our forwards bar RVP. Lol at being underwhelmed. For 11 million that's a good bit of business.

Hopefully we have at least one more coming in

[mark_INIESTA_davies]

Podolski is a huge upgrade on all our forwards bar RVP. Lol at being underwhelmed. For 11 million that's a good bit of business.

Hopefully we have at least one more coming in

Trust,

Podolski is worth at least £35m market value wise.

He's at Koln who are getting relegated & has already been to Bayern which means no one will stump up £35m.

When Germany win Euro 2012 he'd be worth at least £45m.

Real Madrid would have paid that for him if they didn't have Cristiano Ronaldo & Karim Benzema that's a fact.

We got in QUICK and signed one of the best strikers in Europe.

[Mr. Gayle]

Like I said we will see and yes underwhelmed not like you or any of us going crazy or nuts over the signing, a upgrade on what we have bar RVP but hardly that hard considering who we have.

Is he good on the wing ?

\

Erikssen next ?