Mikel Arteta's best bargain signing on the verge of Arsenal exit

13 Jul 2026 12:02 BST | 4 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

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Leandro Trossard is on the verge of leaving Arsenal after three-and-a-half years at the club in order to join Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas in a deal worth €20 million.

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The Belgium international, who scored two goals and provided three assists at the World Cup, moved to Arsenal from Brighton & Hove Albion back in January 2023 and he has been an integral player for the Gunners ever since his arrival.

Current ETV

Leandro Trossard

F, M (L)

Arsenal

Leandro Trossard

F, M (L)

Arsenal

ETV Range

€13.8M - €16.8M

Trossard has shared left winger duties with Gabriel Martinelli throughout his spell at the Emirates Stadium, but he has been Mikel Arteta’s preferred option for the majority of his time in north London and he started 21 Premier League matches last term.

However, he is now 31 years old and Arsenal have reached a full agreement to sell him to Besiktas for an initial fee of €18m, plus an additional €2m in possible add-ons.

Trossard is close to agreeing personal terms with Besiktas, as per The Athletic, and he is set to sign a three-year contract at the club, with the option for a fourth included. It’s reported that he will earn an annual salary of approximately €7m in Turkey and the deal could be completed this week, with discussions currently ongoing.

Arsenal are set to intensify their pursuit of Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis once Trossard’s departure is officially confirmed, while they also remain interested in Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) and Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain).

© IMAGO - Leandro Trossard is set to join Besiktas

Leandro Trossard: Mikel Arteta’s best bargain signing?

If it wasn’t for Chelsea, Arsenal would’ve signed Mykhailo Mudryk for around €70m in January 2023 and a deal for Trossard would never have been agreed.

However, the Gunners turned to the Brighton winger after Chelsea hijacked their deal for Mudryk and they paid just €24m to secure his signature.

That fee looked like a bargain almost instantly, after Trossard registered 10 assists in his first 20 Premier League games for Arsenal, and he has been one of the club’s best signings of the 21st century.

Trossard has popped up with vital goals throughout his spell at the Emirates Stadium, most notably a late winner versus West Ham United en route to the 2025-26 Premier League title, and Arsenal will sorely miss his ability to provide clutch moments.

The Gunners have spent huge sums of money on a number of players during Arteta’s reign, but Trossard was a bargain signing and he has been a vital reason behind their progression in recent years. His replacement will therefore have huge boots to fill.

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