Superstar defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos is expected to sign with Arsenal later this week in a three year deal reportedly worth 19 million euros, making him the highest paid soccer player in Greece’s history.

The 29-year-old Borussia Dortmund player will be the first signing by Arsenals’s new manager Unia Emery and it appears he beat Manchester United to the Greek star.

Papastathopoulos’ father Charalambos told Greek radio station Radio 24/7 that Man Utd. had been chasing his son as a centre-back but they could not make a  decision until July.

“United have a very good relationship with Dortmund – the teams talked the most – but Sokratis chose to go to Arsenal. He is happy, he is in England at the moment and he will do what he has to do. He is changing [teams] and, I think, he is going to a higher level. It is the world’s most competitive league and I believe he will do well there.”