Arsenal sign midfielder Bischoff

Bischoff will be an unknown quantity to most English fans

Arsenal have signed Portugal Under-21 midfielder Amaury Bischoff from Werder Bremen for an undisclosed fee.

Bischoff will join up with his new team-mates when they return from a training camp in Austria.

The 21-year-old made just one appearance for the Bundesliga side Bremen last season and he can play in the centre or right of midfield.

Bischoff joined Bremen in 2005 after spending his early years in France with Colmar and Strasbourg.

Bischoff played for France's Under-18 team before switching his allegiance to Portugal.

His only appearance for the German team came against Celta Vigo in the Uefa Cup in 2007.

"Amaury is a young, promising player who we have taken a gamble on because he has been out for a long time,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the club website.

"We have to get him to a very good (fitness) level.

"He has talent but we’ll have to wait two or three months to get him competitive. He has had two surgeries on his groin so it is a gamble on his talent."