Arsenal have signed Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina from Nice for a fee of £3.5 million (Dh21.9m).
Ospina will join up with the club after their tour of the USA is over as he is currently on holiday following the World Cup.
The club will need to wait to finalise the deal for the 25-year-old but there are only formalities left to be completed and Ospina should be unveiled by the Gunners next week.
Arsene Wenger had hoped for the ‘keeper to be available for their friendly against New York Red Bulls on Friday but Ospina will complete his medical and join the squad when they are back in England.
The Colombian has signed a four year deal worth a reported £60,000-a-week (Dh375,000).
Ospina performed well in the World Cup and earned plenty of plaudits for his performances.
The keeper will now challenge Wojciech Szczesny for the number one spot at the Emirates and has been in talks with Wenger about his role at the club.
The Arsenal boss has told him that he will get the chance to rival Szczesny for a starting role.
The signing is Arsenal’s third of the summer, along with Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy, pushing their expenditure towards the £45m (Dh281.9m) mark.
Ospina, who has won 44 caps for his country and whose sister Daniela is married to new Madrid signing and Colombia team-mate James Rodriguez – joined Nice in 2008 from Atletico Nacional as replacement for now-Tottenham ‘keeper Hugo Lloris, who had left for Lyon.
He has since established himself as one of the best ‘keepers in Ligue 1 and in 55 appearances since 2012- 13 he has conceded just 50 goals.