ARSENAL have beat off competition from Manchester United and Real Madrid to sign teenager Ignasi Miquel from Spanish side Cornella.

The 15-year-old defender has been snapped up from Spain's Union Deportiva and will join the club when he turns 16 on October 28, with the fee believed to rise to around £1 million if he reaches Arsenal's first team.

The Gunners' Spanish scout Francis Cangigao spotted the 6ft 3in centre-back and watched the player in action at Cornella and in a match for Spain's under 16 youth side.

Miquel, who started his career at Espanyol before spending five years with Barcelona's youth set-up as a left-back, has visited London to see Arsenal's training facilities and stadium on three occasions.

Cornella's sporting director Andres Manzano told setantasports.com: "We spoke to him (Cangigao) while Manchester United, Valencia, Villarreal and Real Madrid were also very interested signing the defender.

"Miquel is convinced that Arsenal will offer him a career, he knows he will have the chance to be played there, whereas at Barcelona it was impossible for him to show himself.

"Maybe in four years he will be able to play for their first team. The fact Wenger took the time to speak to him made the difference, he told him he relies on him and that he has a future at the club."

Miquel's acquisition follows Wenger's previous successful attempts to lure Cesc Fabregas and Fran Merida from Barcelona's academy to London. While Fabregas is already an established member of the first team, 17-year-old Merida is currently on loan at Real Sociedad until the end of the season.