It's become quite the trend for players to say that they are fulfilling a 'dream' when joining a new club and that they've always been a 'fan' of the team they're signing for. Yet it can be rare for them to actually say it with true sincerity nowadays, with loyalty in football becoming an uncommon trait for many to have.
However, that doesn't make it completely impossible as we were reminded over the summer. Arsenal signed Oleksandr Zinchenko, who was a boyhood fan of the Gunners growing up. Despite playing for Premier League rivals Manchester City for six years, the Ukrainian international described the move as a "boyhood dream come true."
"First of all I would like to say this is a boyhood dream come true, because I was a massive fan when I was a kid," he said. "Since Thierry Henry and young Cesc Fabregas was playing here, I was just enjoying watching those games, that Arsenal. And obviously, I started to love this club, so I am so excited and I cannot wait to play for this amazing club."
