Espanyol sign Indonesian teen

Striker Irawan joins La Liga outfit

By Edwin Chong.   Last Updated: November 12, 2011 3:32pm

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Mauricio Pochettino: Espanyol head coach backs new signing to become a big talent

Sky Bet

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.