18-year-old French defender Gaël Clichy has signed for Arsenal, reportedly for four years. The left back has been used in most pre-season games while on trial from AS Cannes. The transfer fee is reported to be around £250,000.

Usually, the signing of teenagers hardly make ripples around Highbury, as they are handed contracts and duties in the reserve sides of Liam Brady's youth setup. However, in the case of Clichy and Philippe Senderos, the club obviously expect them to contribute in the first team.

Clichy has been handed Oleg Luzhny's no. 22 shirt, while Senderos reportedly has got the no. 20 worn by Matthew Upson. They have both played on the Austria tour, and bar Senderos' injury scare they both would have been on the pitch against Celtic.

While Senderos is competing with Martin Keown and Pascal Cygan in central defence, Clichy may be bad news for the promising Ryan Garry. The two left-backs will have Ashley Cole in front of them, but are both vying to be his understudy.

More on the new signing, at arsenal.com.