According to a report in Spanish publication El Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal have reportedly ‘signed’ the 14-year-old son of former Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

Guillem (Guim) Laporta, a burgeoning right-back, is understood to have accepted an offer to train with the Gunners after his mother, ex-wife of Joan, moved to the capital. It must be stressed that no money has changed hands with the move being made due to a change in his personal circumstances, not because he wants to play in the next round of the Carling Cup.

Laporta is famed in Barcelona for having returned the glory days to the Nou Camp. Spending big cash to lure top talent, he appointed first Frank Rijkaard and then Pep Guardiola as the club won four La Liga titles, two Champions League trophies, the Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

In North London, however, Laporta is better known for being the driving force behind unsettling Thierry Henry, Alexander Hleb and Cesc Fabregas as he regularly attempted to pillage Arsene Wenger’s top talents.

Having ended his two terms as Barcelona president, he currently holds a position as an MP in the Parliament of Catalonia.