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Arsenal Transfers: Alexandre Lacazette to rejoin Lyon as free agent
Alexandre Lacazette is set to return to Lyon on a free transfer this summer after reaching a deal with his former club.
The French forward departed Lyon off the back of a 28-goal season in Ligue 1 and signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2017 for a then club-record £46.5m fee. The 31-year-old, however, was never prolific for the Gunners. Although, he did register 14 and 13-goal Premier League seasons in 2017/18 and 2018/19 respectively – the latter being his most impressive campaign in north London.
Lacazette played a starring role under Unai Emery and initially under Mikel Arteta before his influence began to wane last season. The Frenchman scored just four Premier League goals in 2021/22, although he did add an impressive seven assists.
Nevertheless, his struggles in front of goal meant it was always unlikely for the rebuilding Gunners to extend the forward, whose contract expires on June 30, this summer.
Alexandre Lacazette has agreed to rejoin Lyon on a free transfer
.@TheAthleticUK can confirm reports from France that Alexandre Lacazette has agreed to return to Lyon on a free transfer.
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) June 2, 2022
The deal will bring an end to Lacazette’s five-year spell with Arsenal.
🔴⚪️ #AFC 🇫🇷 @AdamCrafton_ https://t.co/kEQheKnQ0H
The Atletic confirmed L’Equipe’s initial news break of Lacazette deciding to rejoin his former club Lyon on Thursday afternoon.
The striker is said to have informed Arsenal earlier this week about his intention to return to Lyon, where he will be welcomed with open arms.
Lacazette scored 129 goals in 275 appearances for the French club before he signed for Arsenal.
Earlier this year, Lyon general manager Vincent Ponsot and president Jean-Michel Aulas expressed their desire to bring Lacazette back to the club.
Ponsot said: “He’s a player who interests us for all that he has represented here. We noticed his maturity and he is someone that the club have stayed in contact with.”
“We will make every possible effort,” added Aulas.
Lyon endured a pretty wretched season under gung-ho Dutch boss Peter Bosz last time out as they finished eighth in Ligue 1 after being dumped out of the Europa League by West Ham in the quarter-finals. Thus, there will be no European football for Lacazette upon his return to the Groupama Stadium.
As for Arsenal, the club were very much expecting to move on from the 31-year-old this summer. Eddie Nketiah will sign a new deal in north London with at least one new arrival set to bolster Arteta’s forward line. The club have been linked with several targets, including Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus.