Leandro Trossard to Besiktas: Major transfer finalised
Leandro Trossard to Besiktas: It is over. Just like that, Leandro Trossard has played his last game for Arsenal, leaving north London behind for a fresh start in Turkey.
The Gunners officially announced the permanent sale today. The news caught the fanbase completely off guard, especially given how vital the Belgian was during the club’s recent league title triumph under Mikel Arteta. Trossard has already been permitted to fly straight to Istanbul to finalise the personal terms of the deal.
How the deal happened
Besiktas, now under the management of Vincenzo Italiano, moved quickly to wrap this one up. The Turkish giants agreed a package worth up to £17 million. Arsenal will receive £15.3 million upfront, with another £1.7 million tied up in realistic add-ons.
It represents a minor loss on the initial £21 million plus add-ons that the Gunners paid Brighton back in January 2023. But he gave them plenty of return on that investment. Trossard made 174 appearances for the club, finding the back of the net 36 times in all competitions.
His final full season in London was a roaring success. He played 50 matches during the 2025/26 campaign, scoring eight goals and setting up another 11 to help secure that historic Premier League trophy.
A sensible move for everyone
Arteta wanted to refresh his attacking options this summer. He knows his squad needs younger, hungrier profiles to stay ahead of the chasing pack. Selling an ageing winger for a decent return is a rare luxury for Arsenal, who have historically struggled to shift squad players for decent money.
The player’s stock was also high after a decent showing on the international stage. He scored two goals during Belgium’s run to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
He is due at Ataturk Airport tonight. A lucrative contract is waiting for him on the table. Besiktas desperately need his quality to close the gap at the top of the Super Lig, a division they have not won since 2021.
Read: Arsenal preparing huge £100m transfer offer to sign ‘world-class’ midfielder
Scorzo’s view:
From an Arsenal perspective, this is a brilliant bit of business.
It is hard to argue with selling a 31-year-old winger for a decent fee. Good squad management means knowing when to let players go before their value plummets. Fans will definitely miss his iconic goggles celebration on the Emirates pitch, but this departure frees up vital squad space. The path is now clear for younger reinforcements to make their mark on the first team.
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