Former Arsenal and Spurs target Houssem Aouar signs for Roma as Jose Mourinho strengthens his squad

Roma have confirmed that Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar will sign for the Serie A club on July 1, sealing the future of a previous target for a number of Premier League sides.

Last summer, the 24-year-old was linked to Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, but ultimately he remained in place at Lyon, where he had played his youth career before linking up with the senior side in 2017.

It follows reports linking both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal with the midfielder in the summer of 2021, although the Gunners signed Martin Odegaard instead, and the potential Spurs move did not materialise.

Now Roma have confirmed the news that Aouar, who switched his national allegiance from France to Algeria earlier this year, will join up with the Serie A side at the beginning of next month, signing a five-year contract with the Giallorossi.

Aouar, who will wear the No 22 shirt for his new club, told the Roma website: 'I'm very happy to have signed for Roma, because they're a great club with a great history.

'I think it's the right project for me, with a big team, quality players and a unique fanbase. I'm now a Giallorossi player and I'm ready to go.'

The midfielder made 179 Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon, scoring 30 times, while he also has Champions League and Europa League experience.

He is the first of two signings reportedly promised to Jose Mourinho in a bid to keep him in place as Roma manager, amid widespread speculation that he would quit at the end of this season.

Roma's General Manager Tiago Pinto said: 'Aouar is a young player who's already made more than 250 professional appearances. He has technical quality and the prerequisites to keep getting better.

'His desire to come to Roma, despite having attracted interest from several top clubs, is a source of satisfaction for us all.'

Roma finished in sixth place in Serie A this season, qualifying for next season's Europa League.

In this season's edition of UEFA's second-tier club competition, they finished on the losing end of a penalty shootout in the final against Sevilla.