Cardiff confirm starlet Aaron Ramsey wants to join Arsenal

Aaron Ramsey has chosen to link up with Arsenal, Cardiff confirmed today.

The Daily Mirror revealed this morning that the 17-year-old star was ready to become one of Arsene Wenger's young Guns.

Arsenal have offered a straight £5million cash deal and Ramsey has decided his future lies in London, snubbing interest from Manchester United and Everton.

And Cardiff said today: "Cardiff City were informed on Tuesday morning that Aaron Ramsey's preferred destination this summer is at the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal.

"We will now continue the dialogue with the Gunners with a view to Aaron's move being completed. "The move, unlike other options, does not include a loan-back period at Ninian Park for the 2008-09 season.

"We would like to wish Aaron every success in the top flight."

Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale admitted the Bluebirds would rather have had an option where the 17-year-old could return to Ninian Park on loan next season, such as the one that Manchester United were proposing, but believed they had to allow Ramsey to make his own choice.

Ridsdale told the BBC: "We would have much preferred him to remain as a Cardiff City player or returned here on loan next season had he gone somewhere else.

"The only deal with a loan-back option was with Manchester United, but ultimately it is up to the player to decide where he wants to go.

"We knew we had a talent, clearly the Premiership clubs knew that there was a talent there.

"Aaron is still very young, he hasn't played many games yet and clearly from our perspective it would have been far better - were we to lose him - to still have him on loan.

"But that's not to be. The lad has made his decision, he gave me the courtesy of ringing me himself and talking me through why he has made that decision and clearly we wish him well."