Arsenal have reportedly rejected an unexpected £29.5million offer from Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad for Leandro Trossard.
Although the transfer window in England and Scotland has closed, Saudi Arabian teams can still sign players.
This situation means that Mikel Arteta’s team would be unable to acquire a substitute for the Belgian if they chose to sell him.
According to The Athletic, Al Ittihad initially proposed a season-long loan with a £4.2m fee and a mandatory purchase option next summer priced between £16-£21m (€20-25m).
The report states that Arsenal have made it clear that the 29-year-old is not available for transfer at any cost, as he remains a crucial part of Mikel Arteta’s lineup. Trossard, who joined Arsenal from Brighton in January 2023 for £27million, has since accumulated 19 goals and 12 assists in 71 appearances.
Had Trossard accepted the offer, he would have joined stars like Karim Benzema, Moussa Diaby, and N’Golo Kante at Al-Ittihad.
Speculation had arisen about Trossard’s role in the Arsenal squad for the 2024-25 season following Raheem Sterling’s arrival on transfer deadline day. In a dramatic turn of events, which also saw Jadon Sancho nearing a move to Stamford Bridge, Arsenal secured Sterling from their London rivals, marking the conclusion of their search for a new attacker.
The final deal did not include a purchase obligation and was completed in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“It’s an incredible feeling. I’m really excited. I’m thrilled,” Sterling said.
“We kind of left it to the last minute, but it’s something I was hoping for. Looking at everything, it feels like a perfect fit for me, and I’m thrilled we made it happen.
“I spoke with [sporting director] Edu, and you can really sense the unity from Mikel’s time here and see the progress the team is making.
“You can see the drive, and once again, the togetherness is something I want to be a part of.”
