Arsenal have reportedly decided to trigger a clause in Dan Ballard’s contract that will extend his deal by two years.
According to Football London, the north London side have settled on extending the 22-year-old defender’s deal with the club. Ballard is currently out on loan with Championship side Millwall, where the youngster is once again impressing.
The Northern Ireland international flourished with Blackpool last season as Ballard guided the Tangerines to promotion to the Championship. And this season, the youngster is against impressing out on loan.
As well as developing into a promising defender, Ballard has made a good name for himself at international level. The centre-back faced off against Erling Haaland’s Norway last month. With the Arsenal defender keeping the Borussia Dortmund star at bay in noble fashion.
Ballard is not the only Arsenal centre-back making a name for himself out on loan, though. William Saliba has established himself as one of Olympique Marseille’s key players this season. Whilst fellow Hale End academy star Harry Clarke has been solid for Ross County in Scotland.
With the Gunners already having Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White forming a solid centre-back partnership, the likes of Ballard and Saliba will have their work cut out for them next season if they’re to break into the Arsenal first-team.
Ballard contract extension is the latest sensible decision from Arsenal
Arsenal are a club that have been mocked over the years by their own supporters for their incompetence when it comes to new deals. Yet this decision to extend Ballard’s contract by two years is just the latest in a string of good choices from the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta has made it a mission to tie down Hale End’s finest to the club long-term. And for Ballard, the Northern Ireland international is a player who could well become a part of Arsenal’s future if his development continues to progress upwards.
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