Arsenal confirm Denis Suarez capture

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez on loan until the end of the season.

The announcement had been expected after the La Liga side prematurely confirmed the transfer last night, with the 25-year-old himself posting a goodbye message to his Barca teammates this morning.

Suarez, who previously worked under Gunners boss Unai Emery at Sevilla, had featured just twice for Barcelona in La Liga this season prior to his move.

"We are very happy that Denis Suarez is joining us," Emery told the club's website. "He is a player we know well and I have worked with him at Sevilla. He brings us quality and options in many different attacking positions, so he'll be able to help the team."

A lack of available funds has restricted Emery to making only loan signings in January, although the deal for Suarez is believed to include an option to buy for £18m at the end of the campaign.

The club have also been pursuing deals for Inter Milan's Ivan Perisic and Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco this month but both deals are thought to have collapsed.