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It hasn't been officially announced yet, but with the reports and such that I've seen, I feel safe in saying that Arsenal have signed young goalkeeper Dejan Iliev from Macedonian Third League team Belasica. He's seventeen years old, and was rumored to join Chievo Verona last season, but the deal fell apart. He trained with the team this week and was well-reviewed, so here he is: an Arsenal player. He'll most likely be in the youth or reserves teams for the time being.
Here's Jamie Sanderson on the deal:
Deal done late last night for Arsenal to sign 17-year-old 'keeper Dejan Illiev. Not sure on work permit, as Macedonia not in EU.
— Jamie Sanderson (@YoungGunsBlog) August 31, 2012
Arsène Wenger busy posing with his new signing today: 17-year-old Dejan Iliev: bit.ly/S5XIyf. Kudos
— Jamie Sanderson (@YoungGunsBlog) August 31, 2012@samuelj29060.
Arsene Wenger looks happy.
This is one of those signings that either everyone will forget about in a year (or sooner) or one that we're all in love with in five years or so. He'll probably never be much more than a backup or reserve, because that's how things usually go, but I don't have any issue with taking a flier on a kid.
Can he play at striker, though?