Kyle Bartley sold to Swansea

According to Sky Sports reports (and confirmed by the player himself), young defender Kyle Bartley has had a medical at Swansea and will join the team on a permanent basis. More details are likely to come in the near future (as the club eventually announces the deal), but for now it appears that Arsenal have allowed a young player being squeezed out by experience to seek his fortune in the Premier League, but with a new team.

According to Jamie Sanderson, the deal was for £1million, which isn't a bad price all things considered. There are rumblings that there's a sell-on clause in the deal as well, but those remain unconfirmed. If so, that would be good business for a player who hasn't really played much.

Bartley has spent most of the past few years on loan, and hasn't really gotten a chance to prove himself at Arsenal. He hasn't been given a chance to prove he deserves one, either, as he's been haunted by injury issues - but he was mostly well-liked at Rangers (where he spent last year on loan) even if he wasn't quite good enough to break through the Vermaelen-Koscielny-Mertesacker-Djourou line.

He has, however, left with class, with his dignity intact.

Swansea deal complete. Very happy.. Was an extremely tough decision for me to leave arsenal, but felt the time was right...

— Kyle Bartley (@kylebartley22) August 16, 2012

Swansea offered me an opportunity.. And I'm extremely excited to start my career here, will always be thankful to arsenal for my education..

— Kyle Bartley (@kylebartley22) August 16, 2012

Was told my chances of game time this year would be limited, and as an ambitious young player I wanted to play in the premiership...

— Kyle Bartley (@kylebartley22) August 16, 2012

Now I'm here I will give 100% for Swansea. Thankyou everyone who has been behind me. New chapter for me.. And I can't wait. Kyle

— Kyle Bartley (@kylebartley22) August 16, 2012

This is how a player should leave a club. Good luck to Kyle Bartley at Swansea, aside from when he plays against Arsenal.