Albert Sambi Lokonga appears set for a move to Hamburg, with the Bundesliga club close to agreeing a permanent transfer with Arsenal.
Albert Sambi Lokonga in training (Photo via Sevilla on Instagram)
Photo via Sevilla on Instagram
Ryan Taylor reports for the Mirror that Hamburger SV are close to agreeing a permanent deal with Arsenal for Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The Gunners are only expected to receive a modest fee for Lokonga, as his contract expires next summer. Lokonga’s deal would have expired this summer if Arsenal hadn’t activated their option to extend earlier this year.
But that extension was just to try and get a fee for Lokonga, with little expectation he would actually return to the first team at Arsenal.
Albert Sambi Lokonga back in training with Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Photo via Arsenal.com
Taylor adds that Lokonga has also been followed by PAOK FC in Greece, with Giannis Chorianopoulos of Greek outlet Sportime also previously reporting that the club were highly interested in the Belgian international.
PAOK had previously signed Chuba Akpom from Arsenal in 2018, with the striker going on to win a league and cup double in Greece.
But there’s been little progress on that front over the last few weeks, and it seems Hamburg will now hijack the transfer ahead of Monday’s deadline.
SEVILLE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 01: Albert Sambi Lokonga of Sevilla FC controls the ball whilst under pressure from Ivan Martin of Girona FC during the LaLiga match between Sevilla FC and Girona FC at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on September 01, 2024 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Lokonga has made 39 appearances for Arsenal since his 2021 transfer from RSC Anderlecht, the last of which was in January 2023. Loans to Crystal Palace, Luton Town, and Sevilla have followed.
The Belgian international did join the team on tour during pre-season this summer, but he didn’t make any appearances on the pitch, and he hasn’t been involved in the competitive fixtures so far.
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