Jorginho
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Arsenal have confirmed the early departure of midfielder Jorginho after reaching an agreement with Brazilian giants Flamengo, allowing the Italy international to join his new club in time for the FIFA Club World Cup later this month.
The 33-year-old was initially expected to leave Arsenal upon the expiry of his contract on June 30, with a move to Flamengo already lined up. However, Flamengo pushed to complete the transfer early in order to include Jorginho in their squad for the group stage of FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup. The South American side faced a June 10 deadline to register him for the competition.
In a statement on Wednesday, Arsenal announced the mutual termination of Jorginho’s contract, making him a free agent and clearing the path for his move to Brazil. The Gunners said: “We can confirm that we have reached a mutual agreement with Jorginho to end his contract with immediate effect to become a free agent. Everyone at Arsenal Football Club would like to thank Jorgi for his contribution to the club and we wish him and his family all the best for the future.”
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Jorginho has now signed a three-year contract with Flamengo and will be officially unveiled to supporters on Saturday. His debut is set for June 17 against Tunisian side ES Tunis. He is also scheduled to face former club Chelsea on June 20, followed by a match against Mexico’s Leon. If Flamengo progress, their campaign could continue into July.
The club can confirm that we have reached a mutual agreement with Jorginho to end his contract with immediate effect.
Thank you for everything and all the best, Jorgi ❤️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) June 6, 2025
Jorginho joined Arsenal from Chelsea in January 2023 in a £12 million move, brought in by Mikel Arteta to add experience and depth to the midfield. While he struggled for regular starts, his influence was noted both on and off the pitch, especially during Arsenal’s push for the Premier League title.
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In the 2024/25 season, however, Jorginho’s involvement diminished significantly. He made just nine Premier League starts, with new signing Mikel Merino pushing him further down the midfield hierarchy. Despite limited playing time, Arteta consistently praised Jorginho for his leadership and professionalism.
Following a win over Manchester United in December, Arteta said: “His biggest quality is his capacity to make others better. Last season was the same. He had fewer minutes, but I told him to be ready because there’s going to be a time. The way he prepares is top, so when he needs to play, he is ready.”
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