Chambers completes Gunners switch

Arsenal have signed full-back Calum Chambers from Southampton for an undisclosed fee, the London club have announced.

Chambers, 19, continues the exodus of players from St Mary’s after agreeing a “long-term” contract with the Gunners.

“Calum has a lot of the attributes that we look for in a young player. I’m sure he will do well with us,” manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s website.

Chambers, who can also play at centre-back, accumulated 22 appearances for Saints last season after making his Premier League debut on the opening day of the campaign.

“We are very pleased that Calum has agreed to join us,” Wenger said.

“The way he adapted to the Premier League last season with Southampton at a young age shows that he has tremendous quality.”

The Southampton academy product is the current England U19 captain and has been moved into defence after starting his career as a midfielder.

“I’m so happy to be signing for Arsenal,” Chambers said.

“They are a team I have much admired for their playing style and a team who have been one of the top sides in Europe for many years.

“I’m looking forward to joining up with my new team-mates and beginning preparation for the season ahead.

“I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone at Southampton for everything they have done for me and for making this move possible.”

Chambers’ transfer fee is thought to be in the region of £16million and Wenger hopes he will provide competition in midfield and defence.

He will primarily act as right-back cover for France international Mathieu Debuchy, a recent arrival from Newcastle, while Carl Jenkinson is also an alternative in the position.

However, Arsenal are reportedly hoping to send Jenkinson out on a season-long loan with Southampton among his possible destinations.

The arrival of Chambers continues a reasonably busy summer in the transfer window at the Emirates Stadium with Debuchy, David Ospina and Alexis Sanchez having already signed.

It is a different story at St Mary’s, however, where Morgan Schneiderlin and Jay Rodriguez are understood to be close to linking-up with former manager Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham as Southampton’s summer sale continues.

After achieving their best ever Premier League finish last season, the odds on Saints getting relegated this time around are shortening by the day.

Along with Chambers yesterday, Dejan Lovren joined Liverpool in a £20million deal the day before.

The Croatia international followed Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana in moving to Anfield, while teenage left-back Luke Shaw recently departed for Manchester United.

Reports suggest Saints are asking for £27million for midfielder Schneiderlin, who joined the club from Strasbourg in 2008 and played a key role in their rise from League One to the top-flight.

The 24-year-old represented France at this summer’s World Cup and has attracted interest from Arsenal, although he is understood to favour a move to Spurs to work with Pochettino again.

The former Argentina international is also in for Rodriguez, despite the England forward currently being sidelined by a cruciate ligament injury.

The 24-year-old has been at St Mary’s since joining from hometown club Burnley two years ago and made his international debut in November’s friendly against Chile.

Their exits would be another hammerblow to recently-appointed manager Ronald Koeman, who is also expected to sell disruptive club-record signing Dani Osvaldo.

Work is afoot to bring in replacements but so far only two have arrived, with Dusan Tadic joining from FC Twente before Graziano Pelle arrived from Feyenoord.