Hisingbacka centre back will move to the Emirates next summer.
Check in to Arsenal vs Chelsea
Premier League giants Arsenal have won the race to sign highly rated young Swedish defender Kristopher Da Graca ahead of a number of other big-name top-flight clubs, according to reports in the Daily Star.
The north Londoners offered the 15-year-old a week-long trial at their training base in London Colney back in August and it is understood that Da Graca left a great impression on Gunners head coach Arsene Wenger.
As a result, Arsenal have now just offered the Swede a deal to join the club at the end of this season so that Da Graca can also finish his schooling back in his homeland.
And despite Da Graca having also undertaken trials with fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Chelsea, and reportedly having greatly impressed those teams as well, the defender has opted to move to Arsenal next year instead.
Da Graca, who currently plays for Swedish division four outfit Hisingbacka FC, told Fotbolltransfers.com of his dream transfer to the Gunners: “Arsenal are a big and good club.
“I’ve had a chance to become a good soccer player, it feels good. At first though I will have to train with them in my own age.”
And when the Swede was asked about when exactly he would be putting pen to paper on the deal with Arsenal, he said: “It could be next week or the following week.
“Moving to England is confirmed but not this year.
“I will move there the summer of 2014. Me and my dad wanted me to [get my] education first.”
Meanwhile, Hisingbacka chairman Thoman Albinsson revealed that he could not have prevented Da Graca from sealing his dream move to the Premier League: “Yes, we are in full agreement with Arsenal. We had some discussions but now we are in agreement.
“One must think of the player as well and see more than just numbers. We are a pretty small club and do not want to stop him.
“We did get more than their initial offer, so to speak, and for a club in our division it is obviously good money. The agreement also increases on clauses. It is a package.”