Arsenal AGREE £50m Ben White transfer after seeing off last minute interest from Chelsea for Brighton’s England defender

ARSENAL have finally agreed a deal with Brighton for Ben White.

The Gunners have committed to paying Albion’s full asking price of £50million.

1

That is after they previously had bids of £40m and £42m rejected.

It will make the 23-year-old one of the most expensive English defenders of all time.

And it matches the fee Manchester United paid for Aaron Wan-Bissaka in 2019.

Personal terms have also been agreed for Three Lions star White.

Now he is set to sign a five-year deal with the North Londoners.

His medical will not take place until he is back from holiday following his exertions at Euro 2020.

White was a late call-up to Gareth Southgate’s squad for the tournament following the injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

He made his Three Lions debut in a friendly against Austria last month off the bench.

The former Leeds loanee then played the full 90 minutes to earn his second cap in the 1-0 win over Romania but was unused at the Euros.

COMPETITION: SPOT THE BALL TO WIN A CAR AND CASH

Most read in Football

'SUCH A PITY'

Major broadcaster ends Premier League coverage as fans are left heartbroken

GO ARN THEN

Trent Alexander-Arnold 'tells Liverpool he wants Real Madrid transfer'

BUKAYO BLOW

Saka undergoes surgery and set for months out in huge Arsenal injury blow

UGLY SCENES

Dunfermline-Falkirk chaos with seats broken & arrests as missiles aimed at aces

The breakthrough is a huge boost for Mikel Arteta, who saw off late interest from Chelsea, in his plans to revamp his Arsenal squad this summer after a poor campaign.

While it continues the stratospheric rise of versatile ace White, who was playing on loan at League Two Newport County just three years ago.

Brighton plan to use a significant chunk of the money from their record sale into buying a new striker.

⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates