Promising youngster Joel Lopez rejects Barcelona to join Arsenal

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brendandoherty·10 June 2018

Promising youngster Joel Lopez rejects Barcelona to join Arsenal

The highly-rated teenage left back Joel Lopez has decided to leave Barcelona for Arsenal.

Barça’s technical staff had hopes until the last minute that Lopez would sign a new contract offer but, Spanish paper Sport reports the 15-year old opted for a change of scenery and will leave for north London.

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The Gunners recently hired Raul Sanllehi, formerly of Barcelona, as head of football relations and this connection is thought to have played a part in convincing the young full-back to move.

In joining Arsenal from the Blaugrana, Lopez would follow in the footsteps of prior La Masia alumni like Cesc Fàbregas and Hector Bellerín.

As the youngster had spurned signing a professional contract at Camp Nou, Unai Emery’s men will only have to pay training compensation rather than a transfer fee for the teenager.