Jakub Kiwior could soon become an Arsenal player after the Gunners reportedly agreed a fee of £20 million to sign him from Spezia - and one of his new team-mates will be able to help him settle, should the deal go through.
A report from Polish journalist Tomasz Wlodarczyk claimed that a deal was close on Friday morning, with Fabrizio Romano later revealing that a transfer was set to happen.
The 22-year-old, who started all four of Poland's games at the World Cup, is a versatile player who primarily plays centre-back but can also slot in at left-back or in defensive midfield.
Advert
He has made 17 Serie A appearances this term for Spezia. The defender will likely compete with Gabriel Magalhaes for a spot on the left side of defence, but his ability to play different roles makes him a valuable option to Mikel Arteta in a number of different ways.
Kiwior also has a future Arsenal team-mate that can help him to settle in.
Kiwior has previously played with one Arsenal midfielder
In what may be a key factor in helping him to adapt to life in England, Kiwior played alongside Albert Sambi Lokonga for Anderlecht's youth teams.
Advert
They were in the starting XI for Anderlecht's UEFA Youth League fixture against Austrian side Admiral Wacker in 2018/19, a game that finished 0-0. The team also featured future Belgium senior internationals Jeremy Doku and Yuri Verschaeren.
Sambi Lokonga left the Belgian giants in the summer of 2021 to join Arsenal. The midfielder, who was once likened to Yaya Toure by current Burnley boss and Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany, has struggled for consistent game time at the Emirates Stadium.
Who is Jakub Kiwior?
Kiwior, meanwhile, played for Slovenian sides Podbrezova and Zilina before joining Spezia in the summer of 2021, and will now hope to take the next step in his career should a move to Arsenal be completed.
Advert
After signing for Spezia for just £1.9 million, the ball-playing defender was linked with a move to Juventus as potential competition for Alex Sandro, but the move never materialised.
A player described as 'very composed' and 'very impressive' by Serie A expert Matteo Bonetti, his ability to play out from the back should prove to be a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta's style.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Arsenal, Premier League, Transfers