Arsenal have signed Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos in a £16m deal, making him the club’s third senior acquisition of the summer window.

The deal was confirmed today after weeks of growing speculation. Sven Mislintat led the charge to sign the 30-year-old, and Arsenal initially made an offer of around £13m. Eventually though, the club met Dortmund’s £16m asking price, in order to get the deal over the line.

Sokratis had one year left on his deal with the German side, where he spent five years after joining in 2013. He made 198 appearances for them at centre-back, scoring 10 goals.

Reports in June from the player’s father suggested he would get a three-year contract in North London, with an option for an additional year.

Sokratis shares an agent with Konstantinos Mavropanos, and hopefully the former Dortmund man can help to mentor the 20-year-old to take over first-team duties in the coming years.

David Ornstein wrote earlier in the summer that the club’s current plan is to bring in first-team ready defenders. That should help them to integrate youth over time.

It’s good to see Arsenal making another defensive signing, with Stephan Lichtsteiner joining the club in June. For now, let’s welcome Sokratis to the club, and wish him good luck for the coming season!