Arsenal are close to signing Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund after agreeing a fee of €20m (£17.7m) for the Greece defender.
The 30-year-old, who has won 79 caps for his country, was identified as one of Unai Emery’s prime transfer targets after the Spaniard took over from Arsène Wenger as manager. Negotiations with Dortmund have continued for several weeks, with Papastathopoulos now expected to complete his move to the Emirates. He will become Emery’s third signing after the purchase of the German goalkeeper Bernd Leno for £19m from Bayer Leverkusen and the arrival of the 34-year-old Switzerland full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free transfer from Juventus.
Papastathopoulos made 28 Bundesliga appearances last season having established himself as a mainstay of Dortmund’s defence since joining from Werder Bremen in 2013.
His father claimed he had rejected a late approach from Manchester United. “There was interest from United but he would have to wait for July, even if the two clubs [United and Borussia Dortmund] have excellent relations,” Charalambos Papastathopoulos said. “He chose to go to Arsenal instead.”
On Wednesday Dortmund’s sporting director, Michael Zorc, confirmed a deal was close and it is understood Papastathopoulos is expected for a medical in the coming days. The Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira will also have a medical at Arsenal as he nears the completion of a £25m move.