Arsenal have signed Laurent Koscielny

Arsenal have signed Laurent Koscielny

Arsenal will officially announce the capture of Lorient defender Laurent Koscielny today after Arsene Wenger confirmed that the long-running negotiations have reached a conclusion.

The manager told production staff at French television station TF1 last night that the club had sealed an £8.5 million deal with Lorient.

The highly-rated 24-year-old's arrival is a welcome boost to Wenger, with his starting defence for the coming season in some doubt following the departure of William Gallas and significant doubt over whether Sol Campbell will sign a new deal to stay at the Emirates. Unconfirmed reports suggest Koscielny will be handed the number six shirt.

Lorient confirmed yesterday afternoon that the deal would be ratified within "hours or days," with the club's general director Serge Areguian saying the hold-up was due to "administrative details to be validated." Negotiations have gone on for weeks, ever since Les Merlus rejected Arsenal's original £4m bid.

Meanwhile widespread reports say that Koscielny has already been training with Arsenal's reserves at their London Colney base while he waits for the finishing touches to be added to the move.

Wenger was in Cape Town last night working as co-commentator on TF1's coverage of the first World Cup semi-final between the Netherlands and Uruguay. The Gunners coach confirmed to colleagues off-camera that the Koscielny deal was done and dusted.

David Astorga, a well-known face to viewers of weekly programme Telefoot and viewers of TF1's coverage of the France national side, confirmed the news on his Twitter page last night.

"Info Arsene. The transfer of Koscielny from Lorient to Arsenal will be announced tomorrow," he wrote.

Koscielny, who was playing for second-tier French outfit Tours just a year ago, believes that his move to the Premier League can put him in contention for a place in Laurent Blanc's new-look France line-up.