Albert Sambi Lokonga has left **Arsenal**after four years on their books. He has agreed on a permanent transfer to **Hamburg**for around £2.5 million, failing to make good on his potential.
A bridge too far for the Belgian
Lokonga made his debut for **Anderlecht**in the Belgian top tier at the age of 18. Over four seasons, he played 78 times for the club and crossed paths with a familiar figure from the past of Mikel Arteta.
*“He has been coached well by Vincent Kompany and his team at Anderlecht. I know Vincent very well. He talks so highly about Albert and the positive impact he had to Anderlecht in recent seasons.”*
Upon his arrival in North London, the Spaniard spoke well about his mental and technical traits.
"Albert is a very intelligent player who has shown great maturity. We're confident Albert's ready for the next stage in his development. We're looking forward to welcoming a new member to our squad."
The board bought the Belgian for £17.1 million in July 2021, a summer of significant rebuilding. The agenda for **Arsenal**was reducing the average age of the squad and fitting the team with pieces to push for a return to European football after back-to-back finishes in eighth spot in the Premier League.
Lokonga was thrust into the fire, starting 2-0 losses to **Brentford**and **Chelsea**the next month. Arteta was willing to give him minutes to adapt to the rough and tumble of the Premier League and learn how to impose himself with the same confidence that had caught the attention of the Gunners.
However, he would drop down the depth chart as soon as Granit Xhaka returned from a knee ligament injury. The midfielder made 13 league appearances by the middle of November but he only earned six more before the campaign concluded as Thomas Partey partnered the Swiss veteran.
Lokonga leaves for unfulfilling loans
The **Arsenal**Amazon documentary depicted a young man who was struggling to accept his reality. For the first time in three years, Lokonga was not a surefire starter at club level and out of the picture for the **Belgium**squad only months away from the 2022 World Cup. He never bounced back.
Xhaka and Partey remained in the engine room as **Arsenal**set the league alight in the second half of 2022. Minutes were sparse for Lokonga and by the start of 2023, he went on loan to Crystal Palace.
The Belgian would work under Patrick Vieira, a former enforcer for the Gunners in the middle of the park. However, he would not nail down a position with the Eagles, returning to his parent club in the summer. A second spell on loan followed in the 2023/24 campaign as Lokonga left for Luton Town.
This was perhaps his best stint, to all accounts, in English football. A hamstring injury ruled him out of action for three months, but **Rob Edwards**always appreciated the endeavour of the loanee. The Hatters ultimately failed to survive in the **Premier League**and again, Lokonga returned to Arsenal.
Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and **Mikel Merino**all were far ahead of him in the manager's plans. **Sevilla**became his third temporary home and finances meant his hopes of a full-time move fell flat.
Instead, he has set sail for Germany for a pittance of the fee **Arsenal**paid for him. Now 25, he hopes to use his experiences of the last four years to support a historic club who are back in the Bundesliga.