Arsenal and West Ham target sends 'majestic' message as £16m deal confirmed

Arsenal and West Ham transfer target Ibrahim Osman has penned a message on social media having agreed a deal to join Premier League rivals Brighton for £16 million last weekend. The move puts an end to a transfer saga which had involved a number of top flight clubs in January.

The 19-year-old is a highly rated prospect having graduated from the Ghanaian Right to Dream Academy, which has produced stars including West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus and Seagulls star Simon Adingra. Osman currently plays at Danish Superliga club Nordsjælland, making 29 appearances so far this season.

It was confirmed last weekend that Brighton had reached a deal with the club to sign Osman for £16 million, with the winger to make the move to the south coast when the transfer window opens again this summer. The player will sign a long-term contract, committing his future to the Seagulls until 2029.

West Ham had been hotly tipped to complete a deal for Osman in January as they looked for a winger with TeamTALK also reporting on Brentford interest and a possible late move from title-challengers Arsenal. Brighton, a club renowned for its scouting powers, were the ones to complete a deal.

Osman took to social media on Wednesday to speak about his transfer. In an Instagram post he said: "As you all know, I will be joining the esteemed Brighton family in the summer. A thrilling adventure awaits, where I shall soar like a majestic seagull, embracing boundless horizons of possibility."

The youngster also reaffirmed his commitment to Nordsjælland until the end of the season. He added: "My unwavering focus remains as fierce as a fearless tiger, as I proudly represent Nordsjælland. And after a fantastic preseason in San Diego and LA, I stand mentally and physically prepared to work hard and give my absolute best to conquer our aspirations as a team."