After previous links to Arsenal, young Fenerbahce star Arda Guler is joining Real Madrid this summer.

Fenerbahce's Turkish midfielder Arda Guler (R) vies for the ball with Sevilla's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic (L) during the UEFA Europa League last 16 second leg football match between Fenerbahce SK and Sevilla FC at the Fenerbahce Ulker stadium in Istanbul on March 16, 2023. (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)
Fenerbahce’s Turkish midfielder Arda Guler (R) vies for the ball with Sevilla’s Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic (L) during the UEFA Europa League last 16 second leg football match between Fenerbahce SK and Sevilla FC at the Fenerbahce Ulker stadium in Istanbul on March 16, 2023. (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Fabrizio Romano reported on Thursday morning that Real Madrid and Fenerbahce had almost finalised a deal for Arda Guler to join the La Liga side, with the documents being checked over ahead of their submission.

The move has since been confirmed by an official statement from Real Madrid.

Guler was available for a €17.5m release clause this summer, due to an agreement with his current club, but Real Madrid agreed to pay €20m plus add-ons to get the move across the line.

Fenerbahce will also have a 20% sell-on clause in Guler’s contract, so they’re set to profit again should he move on later.

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Fenerbahce's Turkish midfielder Arda Guler warms up ahead of the UEFA Europa League last 16 second leg football match between Fenerbahce SK and Sevilla FC at the Fenerbahce Ulker stadium in Istanbul, on March 16, 2023. (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)
Fenerbahce’s Turkish midfielder Arda Guler warms up ahead of the UEFA Europa League last-16 second-leg football match between Fenerbahce SK and Sevilla FC at the Fenerbahce Ulker stadium in Istanbul, on March 16, 2023. (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

There had been a possibility that Guler could have been available for just €5m, if he’d played less than 1,500 minutes last season.

But seemingly with that in mind, Fenerbahce made the teenager a starter in the final games of the campaign, and he ended up playing 1,547 minutes.

The teenager scored six goals and assisted seven, a goal contribution every 119 minutes for the Super Lig club in all competitions.

Previous reports had suggested Arsenal were interested in the youngster, and one of his former coaches claimed last year that the Gunners had already made him an offer.

But instead of Guler joining Mikel Arteta’s squad, Madrid have swooped for him, and they’ve now landed their man.

Fenerbahce's Turkish midfielder Arda Guler (R) is marked by AEK Larnaca's Cypriot midfielder Giorgos Naoum during the UEFA Europa League group B football match between Cyprus' AEK Larnaca and Turkey's Fenerbahce at the AEK Arena in the southern Cypriot city of Larnaca on October 13, 2022. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
Fenerbahce’s Turkish midfielder Arda Guler (R) is marked by AEK Larnaca’s Cypriot midfielder Giorgos Naoum during the UEFA Europa League group B football match between Cyprus’ AEK Larnaca and Turkey’s Fenerbahce at the AEK Arena in the southern Cypriot city of Larnaca on October 13, 2022. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Perhaps Guler’s move to Madrid doesn’t spell the end for his chances of eventually playing for Arsenal.

After all, many Arsenal fans probably felt the club had missed their chance to sign Mesut Ozil or Martin Odegaard when the young playmakers chose their moves to Madrid. In the end, both of them ended up in north London.

Still just 18 years old, it’s far too early to say what the future holds for Guler.

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