Cedric Soares joined Arsenal from Southampton this morning, on an initial loan deal until the end of the season.

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ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JANUARY 30: Arsenal unveil new signing Cedric Soares at London Colney on January 30, 2020, in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

On Friday morning, Arsenal confirmed Cedric Soares will join from Southampton until the end of the season.

As we know, Cedric’s contract with the Saints is up at the end of the campaign, meaning he’s free to sign permanently at that stage. Arsenal reportedly have an option to make that happen, but for now, it’s a loan.

Speaking with the club after signing, Cedric admitted this isn’t the first time he’s thought about a move to North London. When asked how quickly the transfer happened after he first heard about the interest, the player joked it’s been years.

“It has been a while, to be fair,” he told Arsenal Player. “We were close a few years ago, so it’s not the first time. It didn’t happen that time but now thank God it came true. I’m super happy.

“Obviously it was important for me in my career to come here. Southampton gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League but obviously it’s amazing this step, to come here and play for Arsenal. To be able to reach this point is unbelievable.”

Financial details

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Arsenal unveil new signing Cedric Soares at London Colney on January 30, 2020 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – JANUARY 30: Arsenal unveil new signing Cedric Soares at London Colney on January 30, 2020, in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Per previous reports from the Evening Standard, Arsenal will pay a loan fee of £1m for Cedric Soares, which could rise to around £3m with add-ons. Soares is on wages of around £65,000-a-week, which Arsenal will also cover.

David Ornstein previously reported the deal would be worth up to £5m to Southampton. He later clarified Arsenal wouldn’t pay that much as a fee, it’s just the total amount saved through the fee, wages and potential bonuses due at the end of his contract.

Cedric’s Season So Far

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: Cedric of Southampton celebrates during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Mary's Stadium on January 18, 2020, in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 18: Cedric of Southampton celebrates during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Mary’s Stadium on January 18, 2020, in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Cedric started the season in and out of the team. Ralph Hasenhuttl wasn’t his biggest fan when the coach first joined, hence the right-back’s loan to Inter Milan last season.

Things turned around for the player at roughly the same time they did for the team though. He made 12 consecutive Premier League appearances from November to January, as Southampton moved from 19th in the table to 9th.

That included a draw with Arsenal, and wins over Chelsea, Spurs and Leicester, all of which Cedric played the full 90 minutes in.

Unfortunately, he is currently one week into a three-week injury. That’s not a major problem, as the winter break is coming up after the weekend. It’s just something to keep an eye on.