Edu makes admission over Arsenal’s last-minute Raheem Sterling signing

Arsenal’s sporting director admits that signing Raheem Sterling was never part of the plan this summer, but jumped at the opportunity when it arose.

The 29-year-old has joined the Gunners on a season-long loan from Chelsea after being cast aside from the first team at Stamford Bridge.

The England international’s remarkable Premier League career now continues in north London having also starred for Liverpool and Manchester City.

The winger is absolutely thrilled to get the deal done, with his time at Chelsea ending very disappointingly, and Arsenal are delighted to have him as well.

Edu says Sterling was not a name on the club’s radar at the start of the summer, but the chance to sign him was far too good to turn down.

‘To be fair, we never planned to sign him when we started the transfer window. Just to be very transparent,’ said the Brazilian. ‘But we always say we have to be prepared for every single scenario.

‘So when the opportunity came to me, I checked how he plays, I spoke to Mikel [Arteta] of course, I spoke to Tim [Lewis] our vice-chairman to check everyone is comfortable with the step we are going to make.

‘It makes a lot of sense to have someone like him because I’m pretty sure he’s going to add a lot. He has experience, understands more than anyone the league, played Champions League many times, won the Premier League a few times as well so I think he can add a lot to our squad and I feel happy to have someone like him in our squad.’

Arsenal’s summer transfer business has seen them sign Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna and Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad, while completing the permanent signing of David Raya after his loan last season.

Also joining on loan on transfer deadline day was goalkeeper Neto from Bournemouth after Aaron Ramsdale was sold to Southampton, joining the likes of Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe in leaving the club.

Speaking late on transfer deadline day, Edu said: ‘Long day, long transfer window but in the end we as a club have to be proud once again. The way we’re working together, the way we did all the deals. I think we are in a very good situation.

‘You see the signings like Riccardo, Merino, the players that we tried to sign, the targets, they are here. The players we decided to sell I think we sold them for the right price, in the right way, to the right clubs, which is important.

‘Today to be here on the last day of the transfer window to get someone like Sterling, who I believe will be someone who will be very important, will give a lot to the team, so it’s a pleasure. In the end it’s a pleasure the way we finish the transfer window.

‘The way I see the squad right now, we are very strong.’

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