Arsenal seal Lacazette signing

Arsenal have completed the club-record £52m signing of French striker Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon.

The 26-year-old passed a medical at the club's London Colney training base on Tuesday, but the deal was only confirmed on Wednesday evening after a slight delay in completing the paperwork.

Lacazette will fly to Sydney on Sunday with his new Arsenal team-mates for the Gunners' pre-season tour of Australia and China.

Lacazette is likely to feature in Arsenal's first game of the pre-season tour, against Sydney FC on Thursday, 13 July, a match which will be shown live on eirSport 2 in Ireland [coverage from 10:55am Irish time]

"Alexandre Lacazette has agreed to join us on a long-term contract, for an undisclosed fee," an Arsenal club statement read.

"He is expected to travel with the tour party to Sydney this weekend and is likely to make his home debut in the Emirates Cup on July 29 or July 30."

Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger was delighted to finally the seal the deal for a striker who scored 37 times in 45 games last season, and has netted at least 20 league goals in each of the last three seasons.

The France international scored a goal every 86 minutes last season, the third best rate for a player in the top five leagues who scored 10 goals or more.

"We are very happy to have Alexandre join our group. He has shown over a number of years that he can score goals and that he is a very efficient finisher," Wenger said.

"As well, he has very interesting technical qualities and a strong character. So he is a guy who is a great addition for us, and someone who will help us challenge at the top level this season."

Lacazette becomes Arsenal's second new face of the summer, following the signing of Bosnia and Herzegovina left-back Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer from Schalke. 

Arsenal are also expected to make a new bid for Thomas Lemar, after Monaco turned down a £31m bid for the France winger last week.

Lemar, 21, helped Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, and is understood to be keen to working with Wenger.

In other Arsenal news, former Gunners' goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has confirmed that he has agreed a deal to return to the club to take up a coaching position.

The German is expected to work with both Arsenal's outfield players and their goalkeeper in his new role. 

Photo Getty Images

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