Chelsea Champions League hero's son, 17, signs for Arsenal and gets first-team squad number

Arsenal have signed Marcell Washington, the son of former Chelsea and Southampton star Ryan Bertrand, from the Blues as he pens his first professional deal having come through the ranks in west London.

The 17-year-old left-back joined Arsenal from their London rivals as a trialist last season and has impressed enough to earn a deal with the Gunners. It also means he's the latest young talent to leave the Chelsea set-up, many of whom have gone on to excel elsewhere.

The pedigree in Washington's family will mean there are high hopes for him. His father too came through the ranks at Chelsea and made huge headlines when he was included to play in the Champions League final win in 2012 as a youngster.

He eventually left Stamford Bridge and enjoyed his best days whilst at Southampton, where he was hugely influential. His exploits also earned him England recognition and Washington, who will wear No 55 at Arsenal next term, admits its been incredible to have him advise on his development.

Washington said: "I think it's been such an honour to have him take me through clips and walk me through games that I've played. He's really passionate about making me a better player and probably a better version of him. We might have a bit of an argument about it but you get it out of him."

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Washington underlined his ambitions with Arsenal as he added: "I think it's a really big club, obviously. The club are always striving to win trophies. I'm just looking to be an addition to that and see what I can offer the club.”

If the teenager wants to be contributing on the pitch he'll need to compete with the likes of Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly for a place in the first-team, but is glad he'll have such quality around him, adamant they can help improve him during the infant years of his professional career.

He added: "They're all great players that play in and around my position, which I think is a really good thing and training with them and getting the opportunities is really good as well. Because you obviously want to learn from players with such experience and such high skill with all of the games.”

Mikel Arteta has continued to give youth a chance with Lewis-Skelly enjoying a breakout season. Ethan Nwaneri has also become a mainstay with the first-team, all of which will give Washington hope he can get an opportunity.

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