Ramsey signs four-year Juve deal

Aaron Ramsey will join Juventus this summer on a free transfer from Arsenal, after signing a four-year deal with the Italian champions.

The Wales international has agreed a pre-contract deal to join on July 1 when his Arsenal deal expires at the end of the season. He will earn £325,000 a week, according to sources.

The 28-year-old had been in talks with the Gunners over a new deal for several months, but the club withdrew their offer in October, leaving the midfielder free to discuss a move away from north London.

In a post on social media, Ramsey said his decision to end his 11-year stay at Arsenal was made with a “heavy heart”.

Last month, Arsenal head coach Unai Emery suggested funds were tight at the Emirates Stadium when he admitted they were only able to sign players on loan in the transfer window.

In the last 13 months, Arsenal have signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Lucas Torreira for a combined total of over £100m, but only signed Denis Suarez on loan from Barcelona in January.

Mesut Ozil was also handed a new long-term contract last season that Sky sources understand to be worth £350,000 per week.

Juventus are considered to be experts at exploiting the free transfer market, and have signed the likes of Dani Alves, Emre Can, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba on pre-contract deals in recent years.

Ramsey will become the third Welshman to play for Juve, following in the footsteps of Ian Rush – who spent just one season in Italy – and John Charles, who spent five years with the club in the 1950s and 60s.