Krystian Bielik has officially joined Derby County in a permanent deal from Arsenal for a club-record fee of £10 million ($12m). The Poland Under-21 international, who joined from Legia Warsaw In 2015, has agreed a five-year contract and could make his debut at Huddersfield on Monday.
“We’re very happy to announce the signing of Krystian Bielik,” head coach Phillip Cocu told the club’s official website.
“He is a young player at the age of 21 and it is a permanent deal which I think is a very good investment for the club. I am very happy he has joined the team.
“He will get better and develop, but for his age he is a very good player.”
Bielik leaves North London based club without having made a single Premier League appearance for Arsenal but made good use of his versatility during loan spells at Birmingham City and Charlton respectively. His performances last season at Charlton, helped the club earn promotion to the Championship and now looking forward to test himself in the second tier of English football.
He told Derby’s official website: “That was a good time to leave. They didn’t see me as the future anymore and the manager had different plans as well.
“It was sad when I left the training ground but I spent four and a half years at Arsenal. I joined them at 17 so I was only a kid but I leave there as a man.
“I am a 21-year-old man now and I know what I want. That is to play first team football and that’s what I need.
“I’m here to help my teammates and here to do another step in my career. I promise I am going to do my best in every training session and in every game.”
