Mikel Arteta has already sanctioned the departures of three Arsenal players this summer, with Kiwior, Hein and Trossard all leaving as the Gunners press ahead with their squad rebuild
09:01, 24 Jul 2026
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will welcome back his Premier League winning side for pre-season this month
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will welcome back his Premier League winning side for pre-season this month(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has sanctioned the departures of three Arsenal players as he looks to reshape his squad at the Emirates Stadium, just weeks after ripping the Premier League title away from Liverpool.
Strengthening the quality of the first-team ranks has been one of the Gunners' primary goals this summer. This can be accomplished through two avenues: firstly, offloading players who fall short of the required standard and, secondly, recruiting individuals who bring something new to Arteta's setup.
The first player granted an exit by Arteta was Jakub Kiwior, whose loan spell at Porto was converted into a permanent arrangement earlier this month for £14.9million plus add-ons, following a season with the Portuguese club. The move follows the arrival of Piero Hincapie as his successor at the outset of the 2025/26 season, reports Football London.
Hincapie endeared himself to the Emirates faithful during his time at the club, with his dependable and wholehearted defensive displays proving instrumental in their title triumph, prompting Arsenal to seal his permanent transfer for $46 million last month.
He represented a direct replacement for Kiwior — a physically commanding defender equally adept at centre-back and left-back — albeit a considerably superior one. Nevertheless, the Polish international was well aware that his opportunities in north London would be scarce even before Hincapie's arrival last summer, leading Arteta to grant him permission to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere.
In a similar vein, former reserve shot-stopper Karl Hein completed a permanent transfer to Werder Bremen this month. The 24 year old made his first-team bow in the EFL Cup third round clash with Brighton back in November 2022.
Jakub Kiwior of FC Porto runs with the ball during the Primeira Liga match between FC Porto and Moreirense FC at Estádio do Dragão on March 15, 2026 in Porto, Portugal.
Jakub Kiwior is set to depart Arsenal this summer(Image: Daniel Castro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Yet, that proved to be his only outing for the Gunners as he failed to establish himself in the squad. Hein, who has been Estonia's number one at international level since 2020, had loan spells at Reading, Real Valladolid and Werder Bremen, with his German adventure being sanctioned last term.
His permanent switch to Bremen was confirmed back in May, demonstrating he was also deemed surplus to requirements, with the move being given the green light by Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta. In his stead, Arsenal possess several alternatives to David Raya, including 20 year old Tommy Setford, Kepa Arrizabalaga and the recently-acquired Illan Meslier, who arrived on a free transfer from Leeds United earlier this month, having signed a two-year contract.
Arguably the most significant exit this summer has been Leandro Trossard's $22 million switch to Besiktas, confirmed last week. The Belgian played a vital role in Arsenal securing the title during the closing stages of last season, though his departure wasn't entirely unexpected.
At 31 years old and with just 12 months remaining on his Arsenal contract, it represented, in Arteta's view, the ideal moment to cash in on Trossard while creating the chance to strengthen the left-wing role with fresh talent. Christos Tzolis has arrived as Trossard's successor for $45.5 million, taking Arsenal's summer spending to $91 million.
The Greek winger, 24, was recruited to provide vital cover on the left side. Tzolis, who spent three seasons at Norwich City between 2021 and 2024, produced an outstanding season for Club Brugge last term, registering 51 goal involvements across 52 matches.
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However, there remains considerable work to complete, with further exits anticipated as Arsenal's summer overhaul continues. Other players who may be permitted to depart include Christian Norgaard, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and possibly Ethan Nwaneri.
Additional signings are also anticipated, with approximately $240 million of the $333 million transfer budget Arteta received this summer yet to be utilised. A statement forward, a central midfielder and a defender are expected to arrive before the window closes on September 1.