Leandro Trossard has left Arsenal to join Turkish side Besiktas on a three-year contract, ending a title-winning spell at the Emirates that saw the Belgium forward become a key figure under Mikel Arteta.
The 31-year-old completed a move worth 18m euros (£15.3m), payable in six equal instalments over three years, with an option for a further season. He was given permission to travel to Istanbul for a medical on Tuesday after the clubs agreed a fee.
“Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard joins Besiktas for £15.3m in three-year deal.”
Trossard arrived at Arsenal from Brighton for £21m plus add-ons in January 2023 and went on to score 36 goals and register 34 assists in 174 appearances. He helped the Gunners win last season’s Premier League title, started in the Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain, and made 21 league starts. This summer, he played every game at the World Cup, scoring twice as Belgium reached the quarter-finals before losing to Spain.
His departure has Arsenal accelerating their pursuit of Club Brugge attacker Christos Tzolis. BBC Sport reported the club’s interest in the Greece international in June, and the Gunners are now poised to move. Club Brugge are anticipating an offer, with Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta working on the deal after his assistant Maurizio Micheli watched Tzolis play for Greece against Sweden last month. Tzolis could be available for about £30m (35m euros).
Any move for Tzolis would be separate from Arsenal’s interest in signing more high-profile attackers. The club retains a long-term interest in Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, their priority target, but it remains to be seen if a deal for the Argentina international is possible this summer with Barcelona and Real Madrid also interested. Morgan Rogers is Arsenal’s preferred option in their search for a versatile forward, with efforts to sign the Aston Villa attacker set to accelerate once his World Cup campaign with England is over. Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola is viewed as the alternative if a deal for Rogers, reportedly valued at £130m by Aston Villa, cannot be reached.
Meanwhile, Arsenal recruitment specialist Micheli watched Georgia Under-21 international Andria Bartishvili play for Iberia 1999 against Flora in a Champions League qualifier last Wednesday, with sources indicating the Gunners are stepping up their efforts to land the teenage attacker.