At 17, the Wales midfielder was one of the hottest properties in the British transfer market this summer, and Cardiff reluctantly agreed to let him talk to Premier League clubs after three, the other being Everton, met their £5million valuation.

Ramsey on Friday picked Arsenal and revealed that the prospect of working with Wenger - who has nurtured so many talented youngsters and personally met with Ramsey when Arsenal flew him out to Switzerland - proved even more of a lure than joining last season's Premier League and European champions.

"I am so happy to have signed for Arsenal. I am joining one of the biggest clubs in the world and can't wait to meet my new team-mates," Ramsey said in a statement on the club's official website, www.arsenal.com, after his move was officially confirmed.

"I recently met with Arsene Wenger and he was a big factor in my decision to join Arsenal.

"He talked to me for a long time about the club and the plans for the future, which really excites me."

Wenger has always put his faith in youth, although that was not enough last season as the young Gunners came up just short in the race for the title and in Europe.

Those honest discussions with Ramsey - who impressed as a substitute during the FA Cup final defeat against Portsmouth at Wembley - convinced him to opt for north London instead of the north-west and an immediate chance to make an impact on the first team rather than wait in line at Old Trafford, in a deal which actually would have seen him loaned back out to the Championship club next season.

However, the teenager knows he cannot rest on his laurels if he is to cement a place in Wenger's first team at Emirates Stadium alongside the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott.

He said: "Arsenal is a club which always gives young players an opportunity at the highest level of the game and I am going to work my hardest to be part of future successes here."

Ramsey came through the youth ranks at Ninian Park, and admitted it was something of a wrench to leave the Wales club.

"It was a really difficult decision to leave Cardiff City, they are my local club with great supporters and I would just like thank everyone at Cardiff City for their support and help in my early career," he said.

"I will still look out for their results and there will always be a place in my heart for the Bluebirds."

The capture of Ramsey is something of a coup for Wenger, snatching the promising youngster from under the nose of rival Sir Alex Ferguson.

"Aaron Ramsey is a young player who has shown huge potential," said the Arsenal manager.

"He is still only 17, but has already shown that he is a very intelligent and mature player with great quality.

"Although he mainly plays in midfield, Aaron is a versatile player and can also play across the defence.

"We are all looking forward to welcoming Aaron to the club for our pre-season preparations."

Wenger is keen to add more players to his squad before they depart on Gunners' pre-season training camp in Austria at the end of July.

However, Bayern Munich and Barcelona continue to be linked with a move for winger Alexander Hleb.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas - currently on international duty with an impressive Spain squad at Euro 2008 - hopes the Belarussian will stay at Emirates Stadium.

"I have always said that Hleb is an incredible footballer and what he has done is underrated, well, everything that he does, because he is still an Arsenal player," Fabregas told Spanish daily newspaper El Pais.

"That kind of footballer deserves more credit, but I tell it to you, he is an incredible footballer.

"I hope we will carry on playing together for years."

Wenger is expected to tie up a £13million deal for long-time target Samir Nasri, the Marseille midfielder, after Euro 2008 while Ivory Coast international Gervinho claims Arsenal have made inquiries to Le Mans about his availability.

Reports in Italy continue to line up Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor with a move to AC Milan, although Wenger - at the European Championship as a media pundit - last week gave any notion of letting last season's leading scorer leave short shrift.

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Adebayor's agent Stephane Courbis claimed that Milan has spoken to Arsenal about the Togo international and that the Gunners will now have to decide whether they wish to sell the striker.

"The player is fine at Arsenal but when Milan come in for you it's difficult to tell them no," Courbis told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

"I know that Milan have contacted Arsenal and now everything depends on what Arsenal want to do.

"I'm not an Arsenal director and so I can't say if the club have changed their mind about the player and (if so) why.

"I know that Milan is one of the biggest clubs in the world and when they want to take you you have to really consider it. It's difficult to say no to Milan."

Courbis also felt that Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti would prefer to sign Adebayor ahead of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

"With Adebayor, Pato and Kaka who in the world would do better?" he added.

"It's true that Milan have quite an old squad but this is why they signed Flamini and that's also why they want to sign Adebayor, who is 24 years old, whereas Drogba is 30. This is what Milan wants."