White was presented by the club alongside manager Mikel Arteta (left) and technical director Edu
Arsenal have signed England defender Ben White from Brighton for £50m.
The 23-year-old, who was a late call-up to Gareth Southgate's England Euro 2020 squad, has agreed a long-term contract at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners agreed a deal in principle last month with the move completed following White's return from holiday.
"Ben was a top target for us and it's great that we've completed his signing," manager Mikel Arteta told the club's website.
"Ben is an intelligent defender who is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and his style fits perfectly with us.
"And of course, he is still young, so his age and profile fits with what we are building here. We are all looking forward to Ben being central to our future long-term plans."
The transfer completes a meteoric rise for the defender, who was released by Southampton as a teenager before being signed by Brighton in 2016.
He spent time out on loan at Newport and Peterborough before joining Leeds on loan for their Championship-winning season in 2019-20.
White's performances at Elland Road attracted interest from a number of clubs, including Leeds themselves, but the defender instead signed a new four-year contract with the Seagulls last September.
That deal put Brighton in a strong negotiating position this summer and it is understood they rejected two bids from the Gunners before agreement was finally reached amid interest from other Premier League clubs.
White earned his first call-up to the England squad as part of Southgate's provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2020, appearing in warm-up wins against Austria and Romania.
He was initially among the seven players cut from the final squad before returning as a replacement for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, though he did not make an appearance at the tournament.
White is Arsenal's third signing of the summer following the arrival of midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht and left-back Nuno Tavares from Benfica.
White will wear the number four shirt at Arsenal, which was vacant after the exit of defender David Luiz.
- Get news and features about your favourite team direct to your phone with the BBC Sport App's Premier League club news notifications, along with line-ups, latest scores and results. Download the App here: Apple – Android – Amazon.
- Notifications, Live Guide, social media and more with BBC Sport
Comments
Join the conversation
To use comments you will need to have JavaScript enabled.
758 commentsShowLatestOldestHighest RatedMost Replied
More commentsBack to top
Source
Comment posted by DaveP1982, at 16:32 30 JulDaveP1982
16:32 30 JulI actually think this is a great signing and he could be one of those central defenders who could be at Arsenal for years. It does however seem a bit strange that they can find this sort of money for a player yet only recently they were getting rid of club staff (probably earning poor wages) to cut costs! Football has its priorities all wrong15812
Comment posted by DeShurland, at 16:32 30 JulDeShurland
16:32 30 JulBen White linked with Liverpool – fans go crazy “what a player”, “bargain”.
Ben White joins Arsenal – fans go nuts “signed a nobody”17234
Comment posted by Expat Bob, at 16:28 30 JulExpat Bob
16:28 30 JulSad we couldn’t keep him at Elland Road a year ago, but Arsenal have got themselves a future superstar defender.15921
Comment posted by seagull83, at 16:23 30 Julseagull83
16:23 30 JulIt doesn’t seem that long ago that we had to sell our star player, Mark Beeney, to Leeds for £350k just to keep the club afloat. How times change.
Good luck to Ben at Arsenal.1079
Comment posted by MrJ-Zieleniewski, at 16:20 30 JulMrJ-Zieleniewski
16:20 30 Jul50 million pounds, not a bad player but… really 50 million?10219
Comment posted by Parlez Vous Del Boy, at 16:29 30 JulParlez Vous Del Boy
16:29 30 Jul£50m is almost a starting point for any reasonably good to high quality player these days.
Personally I worry ever more where football is headed. Contracts are meaningless, and agents have more say over a player’s whereabouts than their club does.
Lord knows what our legends of yesteryear make of the present state of the game we love, as far as the moral implications are concerned.789
Comment posted by Garry, at 16:30 30 JulGarry
16:30 30 JulBen White was awesome for us at Leeds under Beilsa’s training, hope it works out for him at Arsenal….8114
Comment posted by Mike Torrinos Cellphone Battery, at 17:06 30 JulMike Torrinos Cellphone Battery
17:06 30 JulC’mon BBC. Headline should read; Manchester United don’t sign Ben White6512
Comment posted by gary worthing, at 16:48 30 Julgary worthing
16:48 30 JulBest of luck Ben, thanks for your Time at BHA533
Comment posted by SaintG, at 16:20 30 JulSaintG
16:20 30 JulDecent player but £50m? World’s gone mad599
Comment posted by metalzimmerman, at 17:01 30 Julmetalzimmerman
17:01 30 JulAs a Brighton supporter I can only thank Arsenal for the £50m quid. It will come in very handy. Brilliant bit of business by Tony Bloom. I hope the lad does well at his new club.451
Comment posted by David McManus, at 16:45 30 JulDavid McManus
16:45 30 JulCrazy money370
Comment posted by Obi Wan Iwobi, at 16:36 30 JulObi Wan Iwobi
16:36 30 JulIts similar to the John Stones to City transfer – and although it took a few seasons, this season has shown that it has paid off long term. Fingers crossed this is the same.
Oh and re Varane – White’s wages arent £300k+, hes younger, and yes there’s an English quotient tax to meet squad rules. Fine.
Right direction, but please dont buy Ramsdale for £30m…426
Comment posted by Mr Blobby, at 16:48 30 JulMr Blobby
16:48 30 JulAnd to think not that long ago clubs were pleading poverty and putting their staff on the furlough scheme. Worlds gone mad.262
Comment posted by foreverblue, at 16:32 30 Julforeverblue
16:32 30 JulGood signing for the Gooners !
Chelsea fan.308
Comment posted by Fletch, at 16:21 30 JulFletch
16:21 30 JulMore then Varane?? Hope this is good business243
Comment posted by RivalFan, at 16:36 30 JulRivalFan
16:36 30 JulReally talented young English player, hope he does well.
From a Star Wars fan.211
Comment posted by Kevin Gerard, at 16:41 30 JulKevin Gerard
16:41 30 JulMore worried about spending £30 mil on Ramsdale, a goalkeeper!!!202
Comment posted by pawcypig, at 16:24 30 Julpawcypig
16:24 30 JulAn incredible fee! But, if he solidifies what has been a nightmare area for Arsenal, he will be worth it.238
Comment posted by Come the Glorious Day, at 16:21 30 JulCome the Glorious Day
16:21 30 JulGood luck Ben. Great signing173