Arsenal were tonight reported to have signed Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Rosicky from Borussia Dortmund. It was claimed in Rosicky's homeland the 25-year-old had passed a medical in London and signed a contract with the Gunners.

The playmaker will play for the Czechs at the World Cup this summer and has scored 15 goals in 53 appearances for his country.

According to the reports, he was allowed to leave the Czech training camp in Austria to finalise the transfer.

Rosicky had been expected to sign for Atletico Madrid, with whom he had been repeatedly linked. The 25-year-old cost Dortmund £18million when he joined from Sparta Prague in 2001 - a Bundesliga record.