Arsenal agree £17m Trossard sale to Besiktas as recruitment drive intensifies

Arsenal have agreed a transfer fee of approximately £17 million to sell Belgian forward Leandro Trossard to Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas. The 31-year-old has been granted permission to travel to Istanbul for a medical, with the deal structured as a base fee of £15.3 million plus £1.7 million in potential add-ons. Besiktas confirmed in a statement that negotiations for the permanent transfer had commenced with the player and his club.

Trossard, who joined Arsenal from Brighton in January 2023 for £21 million plus add-ons, has made 174 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 36 goals and providing 34 assists. He was contracted until 2027 and played a pivotal role in the 2024/25 season, starting in the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and featuring 21 times in the Premier League. He also started all six of Belgium’s matches at the recent World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals.

The departure of Trossard prompts Arsenal to accelerate their pursuit of Club Brugge attacker Christos Tzolis. Sporting director Andrea Berta is working on a deal for the 24-year-old Greece international, who has scored 43 goals in 108 appearances for Club Brugge. Assistant Maurizio Micheli watched Tzolis play for Greece against Sweden last month, and the player is valued at approximately £30 million.

Arsenal also retain a long-term interest in Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who remains the club’s priority target. However, competition from Barcelona and Real Madrid exists, and it remains unclear if a deal for the Argentina international will be concluded this summer. The club is actively seeking to reshape its attack following the Premier League title win last season.

Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa is viewed as the preferred alternative option, with the club’s efforts to sign the versatile forward set to accelerate after his participation in the World Cup with England. Aston Villa reportedly value Rogers at £130 million. Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is considered a further alternative if an agreement with Villa cannot be reached. Additionally, recruitment specialist Maurizio Micheli has monitored Georgia Under-21 international Andria Bartishvili, indicating ongoing efforts to sign the teenage attacker.