Arsenal youngster Semi Ajayi joins Cardiff City on loan

Arsenal defender Semi Ajayi has joined Championship club Cardiff City until the end of the season as the loan window approaches the final 24 hours.

The 21-year-old, three times an unused substitute for the Gunners this season against Newcastle United, Stoke City and Hull City, moves to the Bluebirds after a spell on trial with the second-tier club.

Ajayi played for Cardiff's development side against Coventry City earlier in March, scoring once for the club prior to the completion of his temporary move from Arsenal, which will run until 2 May.

The ex-Charlton Athletic youngster moved to Arsenal in 2013 and this season has made 10 appearances in the Under-21 Premier League but could now be exposed to first-team football during Cardiff's final 10 league games.

The reserve team footballer becomes the 11<sup>th different player currently out on loan from the north London club, with the likes of Carl Jenkinson, Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell all gaining experience elsewhere after being sidelined by manager Arsene Wenger.

Cardiff are 14<sup>th in the Championship, 16 points above the drop zone and 16 points adrift of the play-offs but with games against play-off chasing Ipswich and relegation threatened Millwall they are likely to influence issues at both ends of the table.

Ajayi is expected to be the first in a string of departures from Arsenal in the final 48 hours of the loan window before the 5pm deadline on 26 March, with a number of peripheral first team and youth players yearning for further first-team experience.

Chuba Akpom, Serge Gnabry and Jack Jebb are among the players who could yet leave the Emirates Stadium before the closing of the loan window, which represents the last chance for Football League clubs to improve their squads ahead of the sharp end of the campaign.