Arsenal Get New Defender On Free Transfer From Southampton

On the eve of the transfer window closure, Arsenal will be welcoming a new defender on deadline day from Southampton for free, Saints' manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl, reportedly confirmed.

The defender's name is Cedric Soares, who joined Southampton from Sporting Lisbon in 2015. He currently has until summer in his contract and his manager thought it is best to loan him to Gunners for free since they just signed Kyle Walker-Peter as his replacement.

"From our side, yes. The fact is he's out of contract in the summer," Hasenhuttl said on his readiness to let the centre-back join Arsenal instead of keeping until contract expiration.

The 28-year-old will be Mikel Arteta's second signing after Pablo Mari, who was signed on loan from the Brazilian side Flamengo on Wednesday. Last year, in January, the full-back was loaned to Inter Milan but was not retained at the end of his spell.