Arsenal sign cover for Seaman

Djurgårdens IF FF goalkeeper Rami Shabaan has signed a two-year deal with the English champions Arsenal FC.

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Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has been searching for cover for his first-choice goalkeeper, David Seaman, since Richard Wright moved to Everton FC a fortnight ago and Shabaan's move has been pushed through to beat the looming transfer deadline.

Trial
The Swedish goalkeeper had a trial with the London club, who will play in the UEFA Champions League this season, last week and he impressed sufficiently for Wenger to invite the player back on Wednesday to complete the deal. "It's exactly the right club for me," Shabaan said. "I've been an Arsenal fan ever since I was a little kid, and when [Anders] Limpar played there I began to follow them more closely, and now all of a sudden I will play there. It's amazing and I can't quite believe it."

Second fiddle
Shabaan played for the third division club IK Sirius just three seasons ago and has seen his chances in the Djurgarden side limited by the form of the Swedish international Andreas Isaksson. At Arsenal the goalkeeper will again play second fiddle but he is happy to work for his place. "It's a chance I could not say no to," he said.

Link up with Ljungberg
The fee for Shabaan is thought to be around €400,000 and he will join his fellow Swede, Fredrik Ljungberg, at Arsenal.