Arsenal announce Denis Suarez signing on loan from Barcelona

Suarez links up with Emery for the second time in his career after the pair worked together at Sevilla, where they won the 2014-15 Europa League

Denis Suarez arrives at Arsenal's Colney training ground (Getty Images)

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez on loan until the rest of the season.

The 25-year-old arrives with an option to buy for around £20m for the north London club, should manager Unai Emery decide he wants to retain the Spaniard beyond the summer. He will wear the No22 shirt.

Suarez links up with Emery for the second time in his career after the pair worked together at Sevilla, where they won the 2014-15 Europa League.

Emery said: “We are very happy that Denis Suarez is joining us. He is a player we know well and I have worked with him at Sevilla. He brings us quality and options in many different attacking positions, so he’ll be able to help the team.”

Suarez carries many of the typical characteristics of a Barcelona midfielder – a diminuitive technically skilled player who is rarely wasteful in possession – and is expected to add an option for Emery in an attacking midfield role supplying his forward line.

Suarez’s arrival has meant Arsenal will allow talented homegrown prospect Emile Smith Rowe to go on loan to Bundesliga club RB Liepzig for the rest of the season, as The Independent exclusively reported on Wednesday. The 18-year-old will undergo a medical on Thursday to complete the move.

Leipzig manager Ralph Rangnick said: “Yes, I can confirm that the player is in Leipzig. Then we’ll have to see that we have everything available to be able to complete the transfer today [Thursday]. If that is the case today, we do not have that much time left – everything must be done by 6pm then the player can come to us.

“At the moment this is not the case and I cannot confirm this transfer yet. If everything will work out, then I can still say something about it tomorrow.”