Manchester and Juventus were also interested in the goalkeeper
Arsenal are expected to have a busy transfer window after an underwhelming Premier League campaign this season. Unai Emery will replace Arsene Wenger next season and they have completed their first summer signing.
Gunners have signed Estonian teen Karl Jacob Hein. They have beaten competition from the likes of Juventus, Manchester United, Southampton and Brighton. The player even had trials at Turin side and Ingolstadt.
The 16 year old has already made five appearances for Nomme United in the Esiliiga B and has eight caps for Estonia U17s.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Mart Poom who heads Hein’s youth team, has been advising him and believes he can play for the first team.
“The first year is about academic education,” Poom told Postimees Sport .
“Two years later, he will be able to play at U18 level, and then he will be in the U23s. Then it depends on him. We hope he will reach the first team. That’s definitely very difficult, but not impossible.
“It might be said that he joined Arsenal because of me, but this great decision was made by the boy with his family. Each club had certain advantages and disadvantages. I did not put pressure on him to choose Arsenal, but I promised to support him, no matter what decision he made.
“It was, of course, difficult to choose, because this is an extraordinary opportunity for an Estonian these are all three top league clubs, all of which should be very good football education. Arsenal offers him very good conditions for development.
“The small advantage with Arsenal is that I know the people there and in the academy. I can keep an eye on him and advise him if necessary.
“He is talented, hardworking, has the right attitude, a supportive family and big dreams,” he said. “From a physical perspective, he has everything to reach the top. Of course, he must put in a tremendous amount of work for this, to stay healthy and also need some luck.”
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