From Championship Manager phenomenon to Sweden stalwart, all you need to know about Arsenal signing Kim Kallstrom

Arsenal have signed Kim Kallstrom, a Swedish international who Arsene Wenger describes as a 'player of proven quality'.

The 31 year-old loanee from Spartak Moscow has plenty of experience and today spoke his delight in joining the Gunners.

Here's all you need to know about the midfielder who is adept on the ball and has an eye for a pass.

The 31-year-old is vastly experienced having made his senior debut with Gothenburg outfit BK Häcken in 1999. He moved to Stockholm’s Djurgårdens IF in 2002 where he twice won the Allsvenskan (League) title and the national Svenska Cupen. It was during this period that Kallstrom found international fame after he was rated extremely highly by computer game series Championship Manager and his virtual avatar would go on to become one of the best players in the world.

Kallstrom left his homeland for Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais where he played for two-and-a-half years. A subsequent move to French giants Olympic Lyonnais saw the midfielder win several honours in France’s top league. Lyon won back-to-back championships in 2007 and 2008 and Kallstrom helped the club claim the Coupe de France in 2008 and 2012. An ever present figure in the Lyon side during his six seasons there, Kallstrom played 269 times in all competitions for the French side scoring 22 goals. But the Swede did not reach the success levels expected by the gaming world and Lyon accepted a bid of £3m from Spartak Moscow in the summer of 2012.

As well as being a regular starter for Lyon, Kallstrom has also been a constant pick for his national side. Arsenal fans will be familiar with the midfielder who played against England during the 2-2 draw at the 2006 World Cup as well as featuring when England won 3-2 in Euro 2012. Kallstrom was also on the pitch during Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s spectacular four-goal demolition of the Three Lions during a friendly in November 2012 and the two have a good rapport. on and off the pitch.

Last Autumn Kallstrom was praised for comforting a young mascot suffering from Williams syndrome who had been upset by the noise before a World Cup qualifier against Germany. A video of the moment went viral. Writing on Facebook, the boy’s father thanked Kallstrom and said: “Because of your actions my son was able to experience exactly the same feelings as everyone else: pride, a sense of being special.”

Kallstrom is known as a midfield orchestrator with the technical adeptness that Wenger demands from all his signing. Kallstrom's left foot has delivered many an assist for teammates and he strikes the ball very cleanly. The Swede is also able to read a game extremely well and will be more than able to hold the ball in the Arsenal midfield.