Arsenal sign Manu Eboué
70 comments November 16th, 2004
Beveren defender Manu Eboué will sign a four-and-a-half year contract in January.
He has already been looking at appartments in London, and met Dein and Wenger to finalise the deal yesterday. Primarily a right-back, his recent marriage to a Belgian girl has enabled him to obtain the work permit neccessarry to sign here.
The fee, as ever, remains undisclosed.
Personally, I’m delighted. I saw Eboué play three times during our pre-season, and was immensely impressed on each occasion.
On this very website, following the River Plate friendly, I wrote:
“Manu Eboue is someone who particularly impressed me at Barnet, and who did so again last night. His driving runs with pace, power, and flair are not entirely dissimiliar to those of our supposed transfer target, Hatem Trabelsi. However, it makes little difference, as Eboue is far from eligible for a work permit. Still, I’d expect him back on another trial here next year.”
With Trabelsi now having sorted out his contractual dispute with Ajax, it seems Arsene still felt the need to strengthen at right-back.
With Eboué now arriving, it does raise questions over the future of young Justin Hoyte. Our new Ivorian, however, has also played at centre-back and right-midfield.
The move seems a brilliant one on all fronts. Cheap, it strengthens both our defence, and our ties with Beveren’s highly productive youth system. Eboué’s signing is made all the more delicious by the fact that Chelsea showed an interest in his services.
Current incumbent of the right-back role, Lauren, has responded by declaring his interest in securing a new contract – his current one expires at the end of the season.
Welcome, Manu. We wish you all the best in your time with Arsenal.
