Arsenal midfielder Jon Toral joins Birmingham City on season-long loan

Arsenal have allowed young Spanish midfielder Jon Toral to join Birmingham City on loan for the entire 2015/16 campaign.

"Young midfielder Jon Toral has joined Birmingham City on loan for the 2015/16 campaign," a statement on Arsenal's official site read.

It will be the 20-year-old's second spell with a Championship club, after he spent the entire 2014/15 campaign with Brentford. The midfielder impressed during his stay with the Bees, making 37 appearances and scoring six goals as they came close to challenging for a place in the playoffs.

Toral joined Arsenal from Barcelona's famed La Masia academy along with fellow Gunners first-team star Hector Bellerin in 2011. He has come up through the youth ranks, representing the north London club in the 2012/13 Next Gen Series and the 2013/14 Uefa Youth League.

The Reus-born midfielder, who is in the final year of his contract with the Gunners, was involved with the club's first-team during their last two pre-season tours of the United States and Singapore respectively.

Birmingham City have also confirmed signing the midfielder on a season-long loan, making him their sixth signing of the summer. The midfielder has expressed his delight at joining the Championship club and is keen on helping the club have a successful season.

"I am very happy that we could make this move and I hope to enjoy my football over here," Toral told Birmingham City's official site.

The former Spanish U17 international admitted he was keen to move on loan and following the offer from the St Andrew's outfit, he believes it is the best option for him to continue his football development and gain first-team experience.

Toral also believes that the experience he gained during his time with Brentford last season, which was his first spell away from Arsenal, will hold him in good stead going into the new campaign with Birmingham.

The young Spaniard becomes Arsenal's ninth summer departure albeit temporarily, following the exits of Yaya Sanogo, Wojciech Szczesny, Carl Jenkinson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who have all left on loan, while Semi Ajayi, Abou Diaby, Lukas Podoski and Ryo Miyaichi have been allowed to join other clubs on a permanent basis.