Updated: Nov. 10, 2005, 8:13 AM ET

Guadalajara's teenage striker Vela to join Arsenal

MEXICO CITY, Nov 10 - Guadalajara's teenage striker Carlos Vela will
join English Premier League team Arsenal, according to the Mexican club.

The 16-year-old has not yet played for the first team but came to
Arsenal's attention after scoring five goals in six games to help Mexico
win the under-17 World Cup in Peru last month.

"It's official that Carlos Vela, the under-17 world champion, will belong
to Arsenal," Guadalajara said on its official website on Wednesday.

"We made three changes to his contract, all of which were accepted by
Arsenal," said vice-president Nestor De La Torre.

"I asked what plans they had in mind for Carlos and they told me they were
planning to loan him out to another team in order to develop him for
playing in the Premier League but that's with Arsenal now.

"Vela's sporting rights will go to Arsenal for five years. If Arsenal
decided to sell Carlos the first option would go to Chivas (Guadalajara)."

Vela could become only the second Mexican to play in the Premier League
after the country's international striker Jared Borgetti, who joined Bolton
Wanderers this year.