Leandro Trossard close to leaving Arsenal: Beşiktaş agree transfer worth around £17 million
Leandro Trossard is close to completing a transfer from Arsenal to Beşiktaş after the London club officially confirmed on 14 July 2026 that it had reached an agreement with the Turkish top-flight side for the permanent move of the Belgian international. Arsenal announced that the 31-year-old winger had been granted permission to travel to Istanbul, where he is due to undergo a medical examination and complete the remaining formalities. This means that, at the time of the announcement, the deal had not yet been administratively finalised, but it had entered its concluding stage and no longer depended on negotiations between the clubs.
According to reports in the British media, the total value of the deal is approximately €20 million, or around £17 million. Arsenal and Beşiktaş did not disclose the financial details in their official statements, so the structure of the fee, possible bonuses and other contractual clauses remain a matter of media reports for now. The Times writes that the agreement should also include a percentage of a future sale, while other sources state that the majority of the amount will be paid immediately and the remainder through bonuses. Final confirmation of the transfer is expected following the medical examination, the signing of the contract and the player's registration.
Trossard is therefore expected to leave north London after three and a half years as a player who made an important contribution in various roles to Arsenal's return to the top of English and European football. He made 174 appearances for the London club in all competitions, scoring 36 goals and adding 34 assists. His departure also marks the beginning of changes in the attacking department of Mikel Arteta's team, which enters the 2026/27 season as the reigning Premier League champion and a Champions League finalist.
Arsenal confirm agreement, but transfer still awaits final formalities
The most important fact in the entire deal is the distinction between an agreed transfer and a fully completed one. Arsenal confirmed that they had accepted Beşiktaş's terms and that Trossard was allowed to travel to Istanbul, but at the same time announced that a further statement would be issued only when the process had been completed. The usual final stage includes a medical examination, the signing of personal terms, the exchange of documentation and registration with the relevant football authorities. Until all those steps have been completed, Trossard formally remains an Arsenal player.
Such wording is also important because some media outlets have already described the deal as completed and published alleged details of Trossard's contract. According to The Times, the Belgian forward is expected to earn around £6 million net per year in Istanbul, which would represent a significant increase in his income. Other British sources cite slightly different figures and a three-year contract, with the option of an additional season. Neither Beşiktaş nor Arsenal had officially confirmed the salary, contract duration or possible bonuses by 14 July, so that information should be viewed as informed but still unconfirmed media reporting.
From Arsenal's perspective, the official announcement removes most of the uncertainty. The club is no longer negotiating the basic transfer fee, and the player has received permission to travel and complete the process. From Beşiktaş's perspective, the medical examination is the final major practical obstacle before the unveiling of a signing expected to play one of the central roles in the new project. Unless there are unforeseen complications, Trossard will continue his career in the Turkish Süper Lig.
Three and a half years in London and 70 direct goal contributions
Trossard joined Arsenal from Brighton & Hove Albion on 20 January 2023. At the time, the London club signed him as an experienced Premier League player capable of covering several attacking positions, and that assessment proved important in the opening months. The Belgian quickly adapted to Arteta's system, playing on the left wing, behind the centre-forward, as a withdrawn "number nine" and occasionally on the opposite flank. His ability to receive the ball between the lines, finish moves with both feet and make an impact from the bench gave Arsenal additional tactical breadth.
The figures confirm the consistency of his contribution. In 174 appearances, he scored 36 goals and registered 34 assists, meaning that he was directly involved in 70 Arsenal goals. In the 2023/24 season, he scored 17 goals in all competitions, even though he rarely played the full 90 minutes in the Premier League. In its own analysis of that season, Arsenal particularly highlighted his efficiency in limited playing time, as well as his important goals in the league and the Champions League.
In the following season, Trossard became one of the most frequently used players in the squad. According to Arsenal's data, he made 56 appearances in the 2024/25 season, more than any teammate, and ended the year with ten goals and ten assists in all competitions. Such availability was as valuable as the statistics themselves: Arteta could use him from the first minute, as a solution during a match or as a replacement for several different types of forwards.
His final season in London also acquired trophy-winning significance. Arsenal won the Premier League in May 2026 for the first time in 22 years, finishing the campaign with 85 points and a seven-point advantage over Manchester City. The club also reached the Champions League final in Budapest, where it drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain before losing on penalties. Trossard therefore brought his London chapter to an end as a member of the team that restored Arsenal as champions of England and came within touching distance of the first European title in the club's history.
Why the sale makes sporting and financial sense for Arsenal
The sale of an important player immediately after winning the title may appear unexpected at first glance, but Arsenal's move has a clear sporting and financial rationale. Trossard turned 31 in December 2025, and according to the available information, his Arsenal contract was valid until the summer of 2027. The club was therefore at a point when it could still secure a significant fee rather than entering the final year of his contract 12 months later with a considerably weaker negotiating position. A package worth around €20 million represents a substantial return for a player in his early thirties, particularly if it does indeed include bonuses and a percentage of any future sale.
Arsenal signed Trossard from Brighton in the January 2023 transfer window, with the British media at the time estimating the value of the deal at up to approximately £27 million including bonuses. In the meantime, the club received three and a half years of reliable performances, a large number of goals and assists and a contribution to winning the Premier League. Although the sale price is unlikely to reach the full amount Arsenal could have paid Brighton, the amortisation of the contract and the sporting benefit make this deal different from a simple comparison of the two transfer fees.
The timing of the sale is also important. The Premier League summer transfer window opened on 15 June and closes at 11 p.m. British time on 1 September 2026. Arsenal therefore have more than six weeks to reallocate the funds, bring in a replacement or change the internal hierarchy of the forwards. The departure of a player who could cover four attacking positions creates a gap, but at the same time frees up minutes and part of the wage budget for a younger profile or a footballer who could have greater long-term market value.
Beşiktaş seek experience and reliability for Vincenzo Italiano's new project
For Beşiktaş, Trossard is more than a high-profile name from the Premier League. In June, the Istanbul club appointed Vincenzo Italiano as its new head coach, with the Italian signing a contract until the end of the 2027/28 season. He took charge of the team after a season in which Beşiktaş finished fourth in the Turkish league and failed to win a trophy. The new coaching staff therefore need players who can immediately raise the level of performance while also assisting the transition towards a more recognisable attacking model.
Trossard fits that profile because he brings experience from one of Europe's most demanding leagues, appearances in the latter stages of major competitions and tactical versatility. In Arsenal's positional football, he had to understand several roles, vary the height and width of his movement and react to different structures in opposing defences. At Beşiktaş, he could have greater freedom and more consistent playing time, particularly on the left side of the attack or in the role of a player who moves inside behind the striker.
Beşiktaş's official first-team list shows that Italiano already has several attack-minded players, including Milot Rashica, Václav Černý, Junior Olaitan, Semih Kılıçsoy and Hyeongyu Oh. Trossard's arrival would not only increase the number of options but would also change the distribution of responsibility. The Belgian can take on part of the creative burden, play the final pass, attack space in the penalty area and link the midfield with the striker. His ability to operate in tight spaces is particularly important for a club that frequently faces opponents defending in a low block in domestic competition.
Beşiktaş also return to the UEFA Europa League in the 2026/27 season, further increasing the need for a broad and experienced squad. The rhythm of domestic league, European and cup matches requires players capable of coping with frequent changes to the starting line-up. At Arsenal, Trossard proved that he could remain productive even when he did not start every match, but also that he could handle a greater workload during periods of injuries or congested scheduling. That combination of reliability and versatility is one of the main reasons why Beşiktaş are investing a significant fee in a player of his age.
A bigger role and a higher salary, but also new pressure in Istanbul
A move to Beşiktaş is expected to give Trossard a more important role than the one he had during his final seasons at Arsenal. In London, he was highly valued for his efficiency and versatility, but he often had to share minutes with Gabriel Martinelli and other forwards. In Istanbul, he is expected to become one of the team's leading players rather than merely a high-quality alternative. That means more touches of the ball, greater responsibility in the final third and probably a stronger influence on the rhythm of the attack.
The financial aspect is also clearly an important motivation. The Times states that Trossard is expected to earn around £6 million per year after tax in Turkey, while talkSPORT mentions an annual contract value of approximately €9 million. The difference between the published figures shows that the details are not yet completely clear, and the clubs have not confirmed them. Regardless of the final figure, all relevant reports agree that the Belgian is expected to receive considerably more favourable personal terms than he had at Arsenal.
A higher salary and the status of one of the most important signings also bring a different kind of pressure. Beşiktaş have a large and demanding fan base, while competition with Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe is regularly judged through derby results and trophy success. Trossard will have to adapt to a new league, a different tempo of matches and stronger expectations that he should directly decide games. His experience in the Premier League and the Champions League reduces the sporting risk, but it does not automatically guarantee success in a new environment.
Arsenal create room for a new attacking structure
Trossard's departure is unlikely to be an isolated piece of transfer business. Arsenal enter the new season with the obligation of defending the title, while expectations have risen further following defeat in the Champions League final. The squad must retain the depth that allowed it to compete on several fronts, while at the same time avoiding stagnation after its greatest domestic success in more than two decades. The sale of an experienced forward therefore suggests that the sporting leadership intends to refresh at least one position in the front line.
British media outlets have mentioned Greek international Christos Tzolis of Club Brugge and England international Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa among the potential targets. Arsenal have not officially confirmed negotiations with either player, so their possible arrivals should be treated as transfer speculation. The different profiles of those footballers nevertheless illustrate the options the club may be considering: a more traditional winger who provides goals and penetration, or a versatile attacking player capable of operating between the lines and through the middle.
Internal solutions will also form part of the decision. Arsenal already have players who can feature on the left, but Trossard's 174 appearances and 70 direct goal contributions cannot be replaced simply by nominally filling a place in the squad. The club must replace his productivity, availability and ability to enter a match without a lengthy adjustment period. The final assessment of the transfer will therefore depend not only on the fee received, but also on how Arsenal use the space that has been created.
The departure of a player who was rarely the biggest star but often made the difference
Trossard's London spell will be remembered for an unusual relationship between status and output. He was rarely the leading name in Arsenal's attack, but he regularly produced goals, assists and important moments when the team required a different solution. His value was not based solely on spectacular performances, but on repeatability: he could play in several positions, accept fluctuating playing time and remain productive throughout long stretches of a season.
For Arsenal, he was the type of player who helps transform a competitive squad into a team capable of winning trophies. For Beşiktaş, he is expected to become a leading figure in an ambitious attempt to return to the summit of Turkish football. The agreement worth approximately £17 million therefore has a different logic for the two parties: the English champions are cashing in on an experienced player before the final year of his contract and creating room for renewal, while the Istanbul club is paying for proven quality and an immediate impact.
Until the medical examination and documentation have been completed, the transfer remains formally unfinished. Nevertheless, Arsenal's official confirmation of the agreement shows that Trossard's departure is now a matter of final procedures rather than further negotiations. The Belgian is one step away from a new stage of his career in Istanbul, while Arsenal prepare for a summer in which defending the title and making another attempt to conquer Europe will require a careful but decisive reshaping of the attack.
Sources:
- Arsenal FC – official confirmation of the agreement with Beşiktaş and information about the medical examination and final formalities (link)
- Arsenal FC – official announcement of Trossard's arrival from Brighton in January 2023 and an overview of his earlier career (link)
- Arsenal FC – statistical and competitive overview of Trossard's seasons at the London club (link)
- Premier League – official data on Arsenal winning the title in the 2025/26 season and the final points tally (link)
- UEFA – official data on the 2026 Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal (link)
- Beşiktaş JK – official announcement of Vincenzo Italiano's appointment and the duration of his contract (link)
- Beşiktaş JK – official first-team squad list for the 2026/27 season (link)
- Premier League – official dates of the 2026 summer transfer window in England (link)
- The Times – report on the estimated transfer fee, salary and possible future-sale clause (link)
- talkSPORT – report on the value of the transfer, Trossard's contribution and Beşiktaş's sporting context (link)