Leandro Trossard close to a transfer to Beşiktaş: agreement with Arsenal reportedly worth up to 20 million euros
Leandro Trossard has moved closer to leaving Arsenal and joining Beşiktaş after Turkish media reported that the two clubs had reached an agreement on the basic financial terms of the transfer. According to Sporx's report from July 4, the Istanbul club is expected to pay the London side a guaranteed fee of 18 million euros, with a further two million euros available in potential bonuses. In the days that followed, the focus of the negotiations shifted to the Belgian international's personal terms, and A Spor reported on July 12 that an agreement had also been reached at that level. Nevertheless, as of July 13, 2026, neither Arsenal nor Beşiktaş had announced the completion of the deal through their official channels, so the transfer should still be regarded as highly advanced, but not formally concluded.
Such caution is especially important in the final stage of a transfer deal, when the medical examination, contract signing, player registration and official club announcements still remain. Turkish sources state that Trossard's arrival in Istanbul is expected during the week, after which he should hold final talks and undergo medical examinations. A Spor mentions a three-year contract with the option of extending it for another season, while some other media outlets have described the entire package as a four-year agreement. Since the official documents have not yet been published, the length of the contract and the final structure of his earnings cannot be considered confirmed.
Belgium's elimination created room for final negotiations
Trossard's international duty ended on July 10, when Belgium lost 2:1 to Spain in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup at a stadium in Los Angeles. FIFA stated in its official report that goals from Fabián Ruiz and Mikel Merino took Spain into the semi-finals, while Charles De Ketelaere scored for Belgium. The end of Belgium's campaign removed one of the main practical obstacles to intensifying the negotiations, as the player had been focused on his international appearances during the tournament. According to earlier reports from Turkey, this was precisely why Beşiktaş waited for the end of his World Cup participation before moving to finalise the personal terms.
The Belgian forward made a notable impact at the tournament. He scored twice in the 5:1 group-stage victory over New Zealand, as confirmed by FIFA's official report, and was used in several attacking positions during the competition. His ability to move between opposing lines, combine in tight spaces and finish moves from deeper positions further increased the value of a player who turns 32 in December. Beşiktaş are not looking for a development project, but for an experienced footballer who can immediately take responsibility in attack and help the team with its domestic and European commitments.
The World Cup also showed why Trossard appeals to coaches who want an attacker without a strictly defined position. He can start on the left wing, move inside as an additional creator, play behind the centre-forward or temporarily take on the role of a false nine. Such a profile would allow Beşiktaş to change their formation without replacing a player, which is particularly valuable in matches against opponents who defend deeply. His experience in the Premier League and the Champions League should reduce the period needed to adapt to the demands of a major club, although the move to the Süper Lig will bring a different rhythm, different defensive patterns and intense pressure to deliver results.
Beşiktaş are building a new team under Vincenzo Italiano
Trossard's possible arrival is part of Beşiktaş's broader reconstruction. At the beginning of June, the club officially appointed Vincenzo Italiano as head coach until the end of the 2027/28 season, and the Italian specialist was given the task of shaping a team that will play more proactively, quickly and creatively. After one of the pre-season matches, Italiano said on the club's official website that the team needed to create more chances and would become stronger when the new signings and international players joined it. Trossard fits that description of the team's needs almost perfectly: he is experienced in high-intensity football, knows how to contribute to pressing and can create an advantage through passing, off-the-ball movement or an individual solution.
Beşiktaş have already been active in the summer transfer window. The arrivals of several players have been announced through the club's official channels, including Salih Özcan and goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, while the current attacking and midfield squad includes names such as Orkun Kökçü, Milot Rashica, Václav Černý and Hyeongyu Oh. Trossard would add further technical quality and experience from matches at the highest European level to that group. His presence could ease the burden on the creative midfielders, but also increase competition in the wide positions, where Beşiktaş want more direct output in the final third of the pitch.
Trossard's tactical adaptability is especially important to Italiano. The Belgian is not a traditional winger who must remain near the touchline, but an attacker who often looks for space between the full-back and centre-back, drops to receive the ball and opens a channel for a teammate arriving from deeper areas. In a system with advanced full-backs, he can move inside and participate in the build-up, while in transition he recognises the right moment to run behind the defence quickly enough. Beşiktaş would therefore gain a player who does not need to dominate the number of touches to influence a match, which was also one of his defining qualities at Arsenal.
At Arsenal, he became an important rotation player and a man for the big moments
Arsenal signed Trossard from Brighton in January 2023, and the London club's official profile notes that he won the Belgian championship with Genk before moving to England. During his period in north London, he built a reputation as a reliable and versatile attacker who often decided matches after coming off the bench or taking over the role of an injured teammate. His contribution was not limited to goals: he provided control of the ball under pressure, combination play in tight spaces and the ability to play in several positions without requiring a major change to the team's structure.
Arsenal's official website states that he appeared in all 38 league matches during the 2024/25 season and recorded 56 appearances, ten goals and ten assists in all competitions. In the title-winning 2025/26 season, his role gradually changed. According to data published by talkSPORT, he played 50 matches in all competitions but started only 21 times, recording eight goals and 11 assists. Those figures show that he was not marginalised, but also that his status as a regular starter was not guaranteed.
The relationship between his considerable usefulness and his limited number of starts is the central element of the transfer story. Trossard is good enough to play an important role in a team competing for the biggest trophies, but at Arsenal he is competing with younger players who are viewed as important in the long term across several attacking positions. For a footballer in his early thirties, the decision is therefore not purely financial. A move to Beşiktaş could bring him a clearer position in the hierarchy, more appearances from the first minute and greater responsibility in the decisive phases of attacks.
On the other hand, Arsenal must assess the right moment to sell a player who still has market value. If the reports of an 18-million-euro fixed fee and two million euros in bonuses are accurate, the London club would receive significant income for a footballer who has already entered the more experienced stage of his career. Such a deal would create space in the squad and increase flexibility for new investment, particularly in the attacking line. Nevertheless, the sale would also carry a sporting risk because Trossard is a proven option in several positions and a player who was often effective during several seasons precisely when the team needed a quick solution from the bench.
Why the transfer would make sense for all parties
The basic benefit for Beşiktaş is clear: they would acquire a Belgium international with extensive experience in the Premier League, European competitions and the latter stages of major tournaments. Such a profile can improve the team's quality on the pitch, but also accelerate the adaptation of younger players to the demands of the new coaching staff. Trossard also provides goals and assists without requiring the entire attacking system to be built exclusively around him. In a team with several creative players, he could act as a link between midfield and attack, but also as a finisher inside the penalty area.
For Trossard, Istanbul would represent a new role and a different type of challenge. At Arsenal, he was a highly valued member of the rotation, but at Beşiktaş he could become one of the leading figures in the project. Istanbul's major clubs operate in an environment where expectations are constantly high and every match quickly takes on broader significance. That requires experience, emotional stability and the ability to make decisions under pressure, qualities that the Belgian international has had to develop during his years in England and international football.
For Arsenal, the possible departure is part of managing the team's cycle. The club won the Premier League in the 2025/26 season and is now trying to maintain its competitive level while gradually refreshing the squad. Selling an experienced player can be logical if the coaching staff assess that his minutes will be taken by younger options or a new signing. However, such a decision must be measured precisely because Trossard's value lies not only in his overall statistics, but also in his ability to step into different roles without a long adjustment period.
What still needs to be completed before the official announcement
Although reports from Turkey create the impression that the deal is practically agreed, several formal steps still separate Trossard from officially becoming a Beşiktaş player. The usual procedure includes the final alignment of contractual documentation, a medical examination, signing, the exchange of registration documents and announcements from both clubs. It is also possible that certain bonuses depend on the number of appearances, qualification for European competitions or the team's results, but the details of such clauses have not yet been publicly confirmed.
The timeframe does not present an immediate problem. The Turkish Football Federation announced that the summer transfer and registration period for the 2026/27 season runs from June 22 to September 4. Beşiktaş therefore have enough time to complete the administrative part of the deal, although Italiano would certainly like to have the player as early as possible so that he can take part in at least a portion of the preparations and learn the team's basic patterns. Since Trossard played at the World Cup until July 10, the club will have to balance the need for rapid integration with a reasonable rest period after a long season.
The most important fact as of July 13 remains that the reports no longer concern only initial interest, but an agreement between the clubs and the final stage of talks with the player. Sporx reports a total package worth up to 20 million euros, while A Spor claims that a personal agreement has also been reached and that the footballer's arrival in Istanbul is expected. Official confirmation, however, is still pending. Until Beşiktaş or Arsenal announce the signing and registration, the transfer remains a highly likely deal that is close to completion, but has not yet been legally and publicly concluded.
Sources:
- Sporx – report on the agreement between Beşiktaş and Arsenal and a fee of 18 million euros with two million euros in bonuses (link)
- A Spor – reports on the personal agreement, the expected arrival in Istanbul and a possible 3+1-year contract (link)
- FIFA – official report on the World Cup 2026 quarter-final match between Spain and Belgium (link)
- FIFA – official report on Belgium's victory over New Zealand and Trossard's two goals (link)
- Arsenal – official profile of Leandro Trossard and an overview of his career and performances at the club (link)
- Beşiktaş JK – official confirmation of Vincenzo Italiano's appointment until the end of the 2027/28 season (link)
- Beşiktaş JK – the coach's statement on the need for greater creativity and the arrival of new signings (link)
- talkSPORT – data on Trossard's appearances, goals and assists in the 2025/26 season (link)
- Turkish Football Federation – official dates of the summer transfer and registration period for the 2026/27 season (link)