The deal had been agreed between the clubs for awhile, but the player had been considering his options. The young German is a quality defender as he has proved in his spell on loan at Fulham. At one point many were convinced he was the future Arsenal right-back, and that before long he'd start on the road that way by becoming the regular deputy for Lauren. But I guess the emergence of Kolo Toure as a challenger for Lauren's spot (and just about everyone else's) has scuppered that. At Fulham he'll get the first team action he needs, and we wish him well.

Volz is 21 next week. He signed for Arsenal in June of 1999 and won the youth cup in 2001 having already made his sole first team appearance for Arsenal, in the League Cup loss to Ipswich on 1st November 2000 (when he played in midfield and was subbed).

See our Moritz Volz page, and the announcements on the Fulham and Arsenal official sites.