Arsenal have completed the ￡35million signing of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach.

Arsenal began its offseason transfer activity early by signing Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka yesterday, adding another talented player to the most competitive area of the squad.

Amid calls for the club to sign a prolific striker or a dominant center back, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has again chosen to bolster his midfield by signing a player who captained German side Borussia Moenchengladbach to fourth place in the Bundesliga this season.

The fee was undisclosed and the 23-year-old Xhaka will join up with his new club on a "long-term contract" after playing at next month's European Championship with Switzerland.

"We have been watching him for a long time now," Wenger said, "and he is a player who will add quality to our squad."

Xhaka, who has played 41 games for Switzerland, can play as a central midfielder or in the more attacking positions behind the striker.

British media, however, reported Xhaka's transfer fee at about 30 million pounds (US$43.95 million), which would make the midfielder Arsenal's third most expensive signing behind Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.