Arsenal sign classy young Bolton defender Rob Holding

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of England Under-21 defender Rob Holding from Sky Bet League One side Bolton.

The 20-year-old came through the ranks at Bolton before breaking into the first team 12 months ago and went on to immediately establish himself in the side.

Wanderers finished bottom of the Championship as they dropped down to the third tier but that did not stop Holding picking up the club’s player of the season award.

Arsenal announced his signing on Friday, with both the fee and length of contract undisclosed, to make the versatile defender their third summer acquisition.

Harding follows Granit Xhaka and Takuma Asano in moving to the Emirates Stadium but it remains to be seen if he will be involved with the first team straight away.

He was a late replacement call-up for England’s Under-21 squad which won the Toulon Tournament in May, making two appearances during the competition.

Bolton tweeted their gratitude to the player following confirmation of the deal.

“Everyone at #BWFC would like to thank RobHolding95 for his efforts during his time with the club, and wish him well in his future career,” Bolton posted on their official Twitter account.

Arsenal’s own statement on Holding’s signing closed with confirmation the Gunners “remain in the market” for new players, with further attacking options the most likely target before the close of the window.

Meanwhile Liverpool have completed the signing of goalkeeper Alex Manninger on a free transfer, subject to international clearance.

The 39-year-old former Arsenal keeper left Augsburg in the summer and it’s understood that he has signed a one-year contract.

Manninger will provide back-up to Simon Mignolet and fellow new arrival Loris Karius, who arrived from German club Mainz.

“Honestly, it was a surprise,” Manninger, who was already out with the squad on their tour of the United States, told liverpoolfc.com.

“After these years, in Italy and the last four years in Germany, I hadn’t given up, I hadn’t said ‘That’s it’, I still waited for the phone call.

“When Liverpool were on the phone, it was a great pleasure for me to take it on because it gives me what I was looking for. This is the moment I was waiting for until the end.

“I’ve still got something left, for sure, but obviously it’s probably not the time for me to push for the next three or four years to get a place in goal.

“Time says it’s not possible to play 50 games a year but if I’m called up I’m definitely there for games, I will play.

“I’ll definitely be in the changing room every game, giving my input; I hope, even if it’s only a couple of per cent, it will do the rest.”

Manninger, a former Austria international who also played for Fiorentina, Udinese and Juventus, had been training with Liverpool prior to him signing a contract.