By ESPN staff
Arsenal's long-awaited purchase of Germany striker Lukas Podolski from FC Cologne has been confirmed.
Arsenal signing Podolski scores a great goal
• Wenger: We must buy a striker
Podolski will join the Gunners in the summer, after reaching an agreement with the club about personal terms and passing a medical. Neither club has announced the transfer fee involved.
"The move to Arsenal provides a great opportunity for me to gain experience in international competitions at a European top club," Podolski said. "I have made this decision not against FC Cologne but for this great opportunity and the good of my own individual development.
"This was not an easy decision for me at all, as Cologne, our fans and the city are something special for me. I will always carry Cologne in my heart. We need to pool our strengths now and have to be fully focused on our survival in the Bundesliga."
Podolski, who started his career at Cologne before rejoining them in 2009 after
an unhappy three-year spell at Bayern Munich, said: "I have made this decision not against Cologne but for this great
opportunity and the good of my own individual development.
"This was not an easy decision for me at all, as Cologne, our fans and the
city are something special for me. I will always carry Cologne in my heart. We
need to pool our strengths now and have to be fully focused on our survival in
the Bundesliga.''
Podolski, who had one year left on his contract with the
Bundesliga strugglers, has scored 18 league goals for a side battling relegation
so far this term, his best ever retunr in the top-flight.
Cologne chairman Claus Horstmann admitted the club were sad to see such a
popular and influential figure at the club go.
He said: "Lukas Podolski is a player of world class standing with a special
relation to FC Cologne's fans and to the city.
"We are proud of the development Lukas Podolski has taken at Cologne within
the last years.
"From his early days at our youth squads, via his first competitive match for
our professional team, through to a highly renowned Germany international
"That's why we deeply regret his step, which is not a decision against Cologne
but for the good of his own career.
"Cologne were prepared to extend Lukas Podolski's contract on the basis of a
competitive offer. Nonetheless, this early transfer decision offers scope and
planning security for the next season.
"We will jump at this opportunity to reinvest these transfer earnings back
into our team's quality and into the promotion of our youth squads.
"Lukas has helped the club in many difficult situations, Lukas has left a mark
on Cologne's reputation and we feel the need to thank him for numerous great
football experiences at Cologne.''
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