© Getty Images Enlarge Danny Welbeck had featured heavily in United's pre-season tour before being told he can leave

Danny Welbeck has signed for Arsenal for a fee believed to be in the region of £16 million.

Welbeck was told by new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal that he was surplus to requirements as the Dutchman added the likes of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao to his frontline.

Spurs were favourite to sign Welbeck, but the England forward was keen to tie up a move to the Emirates. He has signed a five-year deal in a transfer that needed an extension to be granted by the Premier League having gone beyond the 11pm deadline on Monday evening. The deal was confirmed two hours later.

Welbeck became the second striker to leave Old Trafford on Monday after Javier Hernandez sealed a season-long loan to Real Madrid, and United allowed him to go as they moved to bring in Monaco's Falcao.

The 23-year-old, who came through United's youth system, scored 29 goals in 142 games but was often used as a substitute or a winger.

He had fewer opportunities to start as a striker after the 2012 arrival of Robin van Persie and made his final appearance for United as a replacement in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Burnley.

The England international's departure meant nine senior players left Old Trafford this summer with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic going when their contracts expired, Hernandez, Nani, Wilfried Zaha and Angelo Henriquez being loaned out and Welbeck, Bebe and Patrice Evra being sold.

Welbeck became only the second player to move directly from United to Arsenal in Arsene Wenger's reign, after Mikael Silvestre.

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