Arsenal have the signed Southampton right-back Cedric Soares on loan from Southampton until the end of the season.

Soares, whose contract at Southampton expires at the end of the current campaign, is Arsenal’s second January signing after the Gunners completed a deal to sign defender Pablo Mari on loan from Flamengo earlier this week.

The 28-year-old was part of Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning squad and had been a regular starter under Ralph Hasenhuttl at Southampton until he sustained a foot injury at the start of January.

Cedric started his career at Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, developing through the youth ranks before making his first team debut in the Portuguese Primeira League at the age of 19.

Arsenal’s technical director Edu said:

“Cedric is a defender with good experience of the Premier League, and of course at international level.

“He is another strong addition to our defensive unit who will provide our squad with quality. I know he is a player who plays with absolute full commitment and energy.

“We are all looking forward to going into the last stages of the season with Cedric as part of the club.“

Cedric has made 138 appearances for Southampton, scoring three goals, since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in 2015.

“It has been a while, to be fair,” he told Arsenal website.

“We were close a few years ago, so it’s not the first time. It didn’t happen that time but now thank God it came true. I’m super happy.
 
“Obviously it was important for me in my career to come here. Southampton gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League but obviously it’s amazing this step, to come here and play for Arsenal.
 
“To be able to reach this point is unbelievable.

“One hundred per cent that I will give all my best every day and every game,” he added. “I try to be a guy with energy, a player that goes up and down. I like to consider myself a team player and yes, what can I say? It’s difficult when you need to talk about yourself! But again, I will give my 100 per cent for the team and for the fans.”