Benik Afobe joins MK Dons on loan deal.
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Arsenal have allowed one of their up-and-coming starlets to depart the club on loan today, with League One club Milton Keynes Dons confirming that striker Benik Afobe has joined them on a season long loan deal.
A warm welcome to Benik Afobe, who has joined the Club on a season-long loan deal. He will wear the number 23 shirt. pic.twitter.com/T5v8EDcDyu
— MK Dons FC (@MKDonsFC) August 4, 2014
The quick, powerful young centre spent part of last season on loan in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday but, after scoring just 2 goals for the Owls, he has dropped back down into League One where he previously spent time with Huddersfield Town.
Having struggled to make an impact at Arsenal at the age of 21 it is hard to see Afobe having a long-term future at the Emirates Stadium, but an impressive season on loan at Stadium:MK could catapult him back into manager Arsene Wenger’s plans.
The Dons have earned something of a reputation in recent years for developing young talent, with Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford having flourished on loan at the club last season and teenage defender Brendan Galloway recently having been sold to Everton for a six-figure fee and midfielder Dele Alli having been linked with a host of the country’s top clubs this summer.