Smith Rowe signs long-term contract with Arsenal
LONDON: Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe has signed a new long-term contract, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.
The 20-year-old youth product, who joined the club at the age of nine, made 33 firstteam appearances during a breakthrough campaign last season.
The length of the new contract has not been made public but is reported in the English media as a five-year deal.
Recent reports had suggested Aston Villa were bidding to sign the England Under-21 international, who has had loan spells at Huddersfield and Leipzig since making his senior debut in 2018.
“As we all saw last season, Emile is an intelligent player with excellent ability,” said Gunners manager Mikel Arteta who has handed Smith Rowe the number 10 shirt.
“His sharpness on the turn and exceptional vision have already made him a key player for us. His attitude and willingness to learn have also been very impressive.”
Gray joins Everton: Premier League side Everton made their third signing of the summer with the arrival of Demarai Gray from Bayer Leverkusen, the club announced on Thursday.
The 25-year-old former Leicester winger has signed a three-year deal with the option of a fourth and joins for an undisclosed fee after just six months in the Bundesliga.
He follows fellow wideman Andros Townsend and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to the blue half of Merseyside with new manager Rafael Benitez and director of football Marcel Brands re-shaping the squad for the season ahead.
“The manager, with his ambition and what he has won in the past, is important and we’ll look to push forward and compete with the top clubs,” Gray told the club’s official website
“I think a club of this magnitude has all the potential to be right up there.
“Everton are a very big club and the main objective is to be pushing and competing back up there in the table.”
Gray, who has been capped by England up to Under-21 level, began his career with his hometown club Birmingham City before joining Leicester in January 2016, becoming a Premier League winner at the age of 19.