Trossard leaves Arsenal for Besiktas in £17m deal

Arsenal have confirmed that Leandro Trossard is joining Besiktas in a deal worth £17m. The Belgium winger has been given permission to travel to Istanbul for a medical, and Besiktas have said he is due to arrive at Ataturk Airport to complete the move.

Trossard leaves after three-and-a-half years at the Emirates, having become one of Mikel Arteta’s most dependable players. He made 174 appearances for Arsenal, scored 36 goals and was especially valuable in tight games, often producing decisive contributions when Arsenal needed them most.

His departure makes financial sense for Arsenal as well. At 31, with only one year left on his contract, the club are recouping most of the £27m they paid Brighton for him in January 2023. The fee is split into an initial £15.3m plus £1.7m in add-ons.

Trossard’s exit also points to a bigger change on Arsenal’s left side. Gabriel Martinelli’s contract is due to run down in 2027, and the club are already considering replacements. Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola and Christos Tzolis have all been linked as possible options.

For Arsenal, this looks like the start of a wider reshuffle rather than just one sale. Trossard was a cult hero who delivered big moments, but the club now appear ready to move on and reshape that position with younger or different options.