Arsenal has reached an agreement with Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares to join the club on a permanent basis after initially signing loan deals.
The Gunners had acquired the duo initially on loan in January but didn’t play much since then due to injuries. Before their return to the pitch, they have impressed the manager, Mikel Arteta on and off the pitch over the past eight months. This prompted all parties to make their moves permanent.
“We welcome both Pablo and Cedric to the club on a permanent basis and look forward to their continued contributions.
“Both deals are subject to the completion of regulatory processes,” part of the statement on Arsenal’s website reads.
Pablo Mari’s journey to Arsenal
Mari joined the North London club from Brazilian club Flamengo and made three appearances before sustaining an ankle injury during the Premier League match at Manchester City. Coincidentally, the 26-year-old Spaniard joined Flamengo from Manchester City since 2016 before returning to the UK with Arsenal.
His time with City saw him go on three different season-long loan spells with Girona for the 2016/17 season, NAC Breda in 2017/18, and he played in the 2018/19 campaign for Deportivo La Coruna.
The Spaniard began his career in his native and developed in the youth academy of RCD Mallorca. He eventually made his La Liga debut at the age of 17. He moved to Gimnastic three years later in 2013 and made nearly 100 appearances in his three seasons with the Catalonian club.
Cedric Soares
Soares who is a regular for the Portuguese national team joined Arsenal from Southampton, where he made over 100 appearances.
The Portuguese, who can play anywhere in the defensive line made five Premier League appearances for Arsenal during the restart. He scored on his debut in Arsenal’s 4-0 home victory over relegated Norwich City.
Soares’s journey begins in his native with Sporting Lisbon, coming through the youth ranks before making his first-team debut in the Portuguese Primeira Liga at the age of 19.
The 28-year-old already has 33 caps for his country, part of which was the 2018 World Cup. He was also part of the European Championships winning squad in 2016.
Soares also had spells on loan at Academica in Portugal and Inter Milan in Italy.
Arsenal will begin their Premier League campaign on September 12 with a trip to Fulham. Before that, Arsenal will be involved in the season opener – Community Shield against Liverpool on August 29.
After the Fulham trip, Gunner will then face both Manchester clubs away from home in the first seven Premier League games.
