Arsenal are poised to sign 18-year-old centre-back William Saliba from Saint Etienne for a fee of £27million.
The Frenchman is scheduled to undergo a medical in north London on Tuesday before returning to the Ligue 1 club on a season-long loan.
Saliba made 16 appearances during his debut campaign after breaking into the first-team in late September.
Despite Arsenal's defensive troubles last season — they kept just one Premier League clean sheet away from home — it is unlikely that Saliba would be a regular starter under Unai Emery this season.