Swansea City Sign Arsenal Defender Bartley For £1m

Swansea City have completed the £1m signing of young Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley.

The 21 year-old has had to rely on loan moves in recent seasons to gain first team experience, and he admitted it was a difficult decision to leave Arsenal for the Swans. But he felt the time was right to join a club where he'd have a better chance of first team football in the English top flight, having struggled to earn a regular place at the Emirates Stadium.

The 6ft 3inch centre back has had two loan spells at Sheffield United and Rangers respectively in the last couple of years.

Bartley confirmed the transfer to the Welsh club on his twitter account on Thursday night, he posted:

The 21-year-old centre-half's move to south Wales is believed to be for a fee of £1million.

'Swansea deal complete. Very happy. 

It was an extremely tough decision for me to leave Arsenal, but felt the time was right.

'Swansea offered me an opportunity. And I'm extremely excited to start my career here, will always be thankful to Arsenal for my education.'

'Was the toughest decision of my life. But it is a permanent deal. And now I'm raring to go with Swansea.'

With speculation suggesting that loyal defensive duo Garry Monk and Alan Tate are out of favour with manager Michael Laudrup, Bartley arrives at the Liberty Stadium to add competition to first team favourites Ashley Williams and new signing Chico. Other youngsters Darnel Situ and Curtis Obeng will also hope to be more involved this season.

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