Arsenal Confirm Sead Kolasinac Will Join Schalke on 6-Month Loan

Arsenal have confirmed that Sead Kolasinac will join Schalke 04 on loan.

News that had been touted for six months has finally come to fruition, with Sead Kolasinac agreeing to move back to Germany from Arsenal and join former side Schalke 04 on loan until the end of the season.

His temporary move could spark a flurry of action for Arsenal in the transfer window, as a host of fringe players make way for new spaces in the squad, which could leave room for possible incomings.

As confirmed on the official Arsenal website, the deal has now been agreed.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1344659624860000263

"Technical director Edu said: “Sead needs to be playing regularly, so we have decided together that a move back to Germany with Schalke will benefit him at this moment. We will be keeping in close contact with Sead, and wish him huge success for the remainder of the season with Schalke.”“The Bosnia & Herzegovina international will be returning to the club he joined as a youth player and spent five years in their first team before signing for us in June 2017.”“Sead has made 113 appearances for us and his fine performances on our way to the 2019 Europa League final were recognised when he was named in the 2018/19 Uefa Europa League squad of the season. Sead was also part of our FA Cup-winning squad against Chelsea last August.”“The loan move is subject to the completion of legal and regulatory processes and is effective from January 4.”"

The move indicates that Ainsley Maitland-Niles will take up the role of backup left-back in his stead, a position he had assumed for most of the season anyway.

Kolasinac has had a handful of memorable moments at the club, including scoring on his debut at Wembley and heroically fighting off a gang of thugs who attacked him and Mesut Ozil at the end of last year.

A warrior no doubt, his return to the Bundesliga will be with an eye on helping the German side avoid relegation from the top-flight. They currently sit bottom of the table.

Best of luck to the Bosnian Hulk!