Willock joins Newcastle on loan from Arsenal

Joe Willock has joined Newcastle on loan from Arsenal.

The 21-year-old will spend the rest of the season with the Magpies, joining Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Shkodran Mustafi in heading out the door on transfer deadline day.

Arsenal and Newcastle began talks over a temporary switch for the England Under-21 international on the final day of the January transfer window.

The midfielder was eager to make a move in search of regular playing time in the Premier League, having seen his chances at Arsenal diminish over the last few weeks.

Willock, who joined the Gunners at the age of four, has made 17 appearances and scored three goals in all competitions for Mikel Arteta's team this season. He has been limited to two brief substitute appearances in the Premier League in 2021.

"I'm delighted to bring Joe to Newcastle until the end of the season. He is a very exciting and talented young player who can get up and down the pitch and can score a goal from midfield," coach Steve Bruce told the club's website.

"He has made a very decent impact at Arsenal after coming through the ranks and to make nearly 80 appearances for the club by the age of 21 says much about his development, ability and character.

"He is very keen to come here and test himself and he'll be a great addition to the squad."

Willock is the sixth player to leave Arsenal in the January transfer window. The Gunners loaned Sead Kolasinac to Schalke and William Saliba to Nice, while Mesut Ozil, Sokratis and Mustafi all left on free transfers.

Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard joined on loan from Real Madrid and goalkeeper Mat Ryan was loaned from Brighton.

He is Newcastle's only signing of the winter transfer period, while right-back DeAndre Yedlin joined Galatasaray in a free transfer on the final day of the window and 25-year-old winger Rolando Aarons was joined Huddersfield earlier in January.