Bolton defender undergoes medical as Arsenal move draws closer

Rob Holding: Heading to Arsenal

Rob Holding: Heading to Arsenal

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of England Under-21 international defender Rob Holding from Bolton.

According to widespread reports the 20-year-old travelled down to the capital on Monday night for a medical and to finalise personal terms with the Gunners after a bid in the region of £2million was accepted by Wanderers.

Holding has been with Bolton since the age of seven and made his senior bow for his boyhood club in a Capital One Cup tie with Burton last August.

Capable of playing as either a centre-back or a full-back, Holding made 30 appearances last term and was named the club’s player of the year in a campaign which ended in relegation into Sky Bet League One.

He was then called up to Gareth Southgate’s Under-21 group at the end of that season and was part of the squad which won the Toulon Tournament in France.

News of serious interest in Holding first emerged towards the end of last term and then interim boss Jimmy Phillips was instructed to leave him out of the team to face Fulham on the last day of the season.