Mexican giants Tigres have confirmed the signing of 19-year-old attacker Marcelo Flores from Arsenal on a permanent deal.
The teenager departs North London following a four-year spell with the Gunners, who poached him from Ipswich Town's youth setup in the spring of 2019.
Flores quickly caught the eye with a number of impressive displays at youth level, scoring 10 goals and setting up five more in 32 appearances for Arsenal's Under-18s before being promoted to the Under-21 squad.
Flores came up with another five goals in 16 appearances at Under-21 level, and he was included in Mikel Arteta's squad for the first time in a 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace in April 2022.
The Mexico international was loaned out to Spanish second-division side Real Oviedo for the 2022-23 campaign in search of first-team minutes, but he played just 15 times and registered one assist during an underwhelming spell.
Upon his return to Arsenal, Flores was not integrated into the first-team setup and continued to represent the Gunners' Under-21 side, making three substitute appearances in the Premier League 2 and also coming off the bench in an EFL Trophy win over Swindon Town.
However, having failed to fulfil his potential in the English capital, the Canadian-born attacker will continue his career at Tigres, who have signed him on a two-year contract until 2025.
🇲🇽 𝕸𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖊𝖑𝖔 𝕱𝖑𝖔𝖗𝖊𝖘 𝔢𝔰 𝔡𝔢 𝔗𝔦𝔤𝔯𝔢𝔰 🐯#PerfilTigre pic.twitter.com/1vFhxIQIYV
— Club Tigres 🐯 (@TigresOficial) September 10, 2023
Flores paid tribute to Arsenal on social media following his departure, labelling the Gunners "the best team in the Premier League" and insisting that the club will always have a special place in his heart.
"To one of the best teams in Europe and the best team in the Premier League, thank you. Thank you to the coaches, my teammates, the staff, and all those that helped shape me into the player and the person that I am," Flores wrote.
"I couldn't of asked for a better development and place to start my professional journey and I will take away the best memories at my time at the club.
"I wish you all the very best and know that this club will always have a special place in my heart. Once a gunner... ❤️ #COYG."
Arsenal are believed to have garnered around £2m for the sale of Flores, who departs the Emirates only a couple of days after Nicolas Pepe completed a permanent move to Trabzonspor.
The Gunners terminated Pepe's contract to allow him to make the switch to the Turkish Super Lig, four years on from his £72m arrival from Lille, which made him Arsenal's most expensive signing of all time before Declan Rice's £105m transfer from West Ham United.
Pablo Mari, Granit Xhaka, Auston Trusty, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Matt Turner, Rob Holding and Folarin Balogun have also exited the club permanently in the summer transfer window, while Nuno Tavares's loan move to Nottingham Forest also includes an option to buy.
Ben Knapton
