Arsenal's Flamini joins Milan

Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini will join AC Milan on a four-year deal, the Serie A club said on Monday. The 24-year-old Frenchman, who signed for Arsenal from Olympique Marseille in 2004, will move on a free transfer with his contract at the Premier League club soon expiring.

A statement on the club Web site (www.acmilan.com) said Flamini, who underwent a medical on Monday, would join on July 1 with the deal running out on June 30, 2012.

"I am very happy, thank you very much," he told reporters.

The hard-working midfielder, who played as a emergency left back in Arsenal's run to the Champions League final in 2006, was also courted by Juventus.

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani denied Flamini has been recruited to replace Italy international Gennaro Gattuso, who said last week he was considering his future and would like to play in England.

"He is not here to replace Gattuso. He can play across the midfield," Galliani told reporters.