AFC Bournemouth reportedly snagged Arsenal star Jack Wilshere in a season-long loan deal on Wednesday as the summer transfer window closes.
ESPN reported that the 24-year-old English international had been looking to "revive his career by getting more playing time away from the Emirates Stadium", where he is fourth in head coach Arsene Wenger's pecking order behind Mesut Özil, Aaron Ramsey, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Wilshere is a product of the club's youth academy and has played all of his so far eight-year professional career with the Gunners, except a 14-game stint with the Bolton Wanderers on loan during the 2009-2010 season.
Last season, 5-foot-8 Stevenage, England native broke his calf bone in a preseason training that required surgery to repair. He went on to miss almost the entire 2015-2016, playing only three times without a goal.
He appeared in only 14 games for Wenger in the English top flight the season before, which indicates that he is not a priority by the 66-year-old French manager to feature in the first team.
Bournemouth won the race for Wilshere as the Cherries went up against fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace and Italian Serie A giants AS Roma for the winger's signature.
Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake was reportedly ecstatic about the signing, saying that Wilshere is "a fantastic addition to the club".
"He (Wilshere) is a player that needs no introduction and one that, quite rightly, our supporters will be excited to see in a Bournemouth shirt," said Blake. "He will bring a wealth of international and Premier League experience, so we are delighted to be able to welcome a player of his caliber to the club."
The report noted that Wilshere chose the Cherries as manager Eddie Howe implements a "similar brand of passing football to Arsenal", which would maximize the winger's skills. The "stability of the setup at Dean Court was also an attraction", the article further said.
Meanwhile, SkySports indicated that Wilshere was not included by newly-appointed England national team head coach Sam Allardyce to the squad that will compete in the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup UEFA qualifying tournament as his fitness is still being questioned.
The Three Lions are set to face Slovakia on Sunday to open their Group F campaign in the said tourney.
