After three and a half years of Premier League football with Arsenal, Leandro Trossard looks set to pack his bags. The Belgian winger is on the verge of completing a transfer to Besiktas, the Turkish Super Lig giants, bringing his time at the Emirates to an end and opening a new chapter in a career always defined by doing more with less fanfare than he deserves.
Trossard joined Arsenal from Brighton in January 2023 for around £27 million and became a reliable, often important option in Mikel Arteta's squad. He was not always first choice — competition for wide positions at Arsenal was fierce — but when called upon he delivered with a consistency that earned genuine respect from supporters and teammates alike.
What Trossard Gave Arsenal
To judge Trossard purely by goals and assists would miss half the picture. His pressing work rate, technical quality in tight spaces, and ability to cover multiple positions across the front line made him the kind of versatile asset every top manager covets. He could come on for 30 minutes and change the texture of a game in ways that rarely showed up in statistics.
Arsenal fans who watched him regularly know what they are losing. His knack for cutting inside and hitting the far corner, or arriving late to finish a move, gave Arsenal a different dimension. Replacing that versatility is not as simple as it sounds.
Why Besiktas and Why Now
Trossard is 31. Moving to Turkey may reflect a desire for guaranteed playing time at a stage when sitting on the bench at a top Premier League club makes less sense than being a key figure elsewhere. Besiktas play in Europe regularly and offer the combination of competitive football and personal significance the Belgian is presumably after.
For Arsenal, the departure creates a vacancy. The Gunners have already been busy signing Illan Meslier and Oscar Mingueza, but replacing Trossard's direct contribution in a wide attacking role remains an open item on their summer list.
Transfer context: Leandro Trossard (Belgian winger, b.1994, Arsenal to Besiktas). Joined Arsenal from Brighton for ~£27m in January 2023. Besiktas play in the Turkish Super Lig and European competition.
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