Arsenal are close to signing Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Rosicky from Borussia Dortmund.

Czech sources claim the 25-year-old passed a medical in London last night and signed a contract with the Gunners. Arsenal have yet to confirm the signing.

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.

Czech coach Karel Bruckner said: "I am surprised that no one has found out about this before. We have tried to keep quiet about it but I have to admit that Tomas is there for a medical."

Rosicky had been expected to sign for Atletico Madrid, with whom he had been repeatedly linked.

But Dortmund official Hans-Joachim Watzke told The Guardian: "He has travelled with his manager Pavel Paska to London.

"The deal with Atletico is off. There were several other clubs interested but Tomas had his preferences."

Rosicky cost Dortmund £18million when he joined from Sparta Prague in 2001.  PA