Espanyol sign Indonesian teen

Striker Arthur Irawan is set to become the first Indonesian to play in La Liga after signing for Espanyol.

Striker Irawan joins La Liga outfit

Striker Arthur Irawan is set to become the first Indonesian to play in La Liga after signing for Espanyol. The 18-year-old, who was born in Jakarta, had a brief spell last year with English amateur club Lytham Town before an unsuccessful trial with League One club Preston North End. But the Barcelona-based club, who are currently seventh in the league, have decided to sign the youngster for an undisclosed fee. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino believes Irawan has the potential to become a big talent at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat. According to the La Liga outfit's official website, Irawan was discovered by the club's extensive scouting network and they have high hopes the striker will develop into a very good player. "The latest acquisition is Arthur Irawan, a promising player from Indonesia. "Our challenge is to help him adapt to the style and rigours of European elite football," Espanyol said in a statement.