Arsenal legend stuns fans with shock move to little-known Cypriot club

Just when you thought football couldn’t surprise you anymore, David Luiz is back in European football, this time with Cypriot First Division champions Pafos FC.

At 38 years old and seemingly winding down his career in Brazil with Fortaleza, the former Arsenal centre-back has penned a two-year deal with the Cypriot side, proving once again that Luiz never does things the conventional way.

During his time at Arsenal, Luiz was many things—chaotic, brilliant, frustrating, and, strangely enough, endearing. Signed from Chelsea in 2019, the Brazilian made 73 appearances for the Gunners, scoring four goals and leaving behind a legacy that’s hard to define but easy to remember.

Luiz was a cult figure at Arsenal

Whether it was his penchant for jaw-dropping passes from deep, his moments of defensive madness, or that unmistakable mop of hair flying through north London rainstorms, Luiz brought personality to the Arsenal defence. He was, in many ways, a cult figure.

Now, he’s set for one more European adventure; this time under the Mediterranean sun. While Pafos FC might not carry the stature of Arsenal or Chelsea, the move is a reminder that Luiz has always done his own thing. He’s never been one to conform, and even now, approaching 40, he’s chasing football glory.

It’s hard not to smile at the news. Luiz did some strange things in an Arsenal shirt. At Anfield, early in his Arsenal career, he pulled down Mo Salah – giving away a needless penalty – before being made to look a fool again by the Egyptian as Luiz dived into a challenge that left Luiz on the turf and Salah in on goal to seal the win for Liverpool.

Once described as an “utter calamity one day and an elegant brick wall the next,“ Luiz has an impressive haul of footballing honours.

1 x FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
1 x CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNER 
1 x ENGLISH CHAMPION
2 x FRENCH CHAMPION
2 x EUROPA LEAGUE WINNER
3 x ENGLISH FA CUP WINNER
2 x FRENCH CUP WINNER
2 x FRENCH LEAGUE CUP WINNER
1 x ENGLISH SUPER CUP WINNER
1 x PORTUGUESE CHAMPION
3 x PORTUGUESE LEAGUE CUP WINNER
2 x BRAZILIAN CUP WINNER 
1 x COPA LIBERTADORES WINNER
1 x CONFEDERATIONS CUP WINNER
2 x FRENCH SUPER CUP WINNER
1 x CAMPEÃO CARIOCA 

Pafos FC could qualify for the UEFA Champions League, league phase

Luiz joins a Pafos team on the verge of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, league phase. Having come through a two-legged tie against Maccabi Tel-Aviv (2-1 on aggregate) the Cypriots take on Dynamo Kyiv in the third qualifying round tomorrow, with a place in the play-offs at stake.

Defeat to the reigning Ukrainian Premier League champions in the third qualifying round would still present Luiz's new side, Pafos, with a hail-mary stab in the Europa League play-offs.

The Arsenal cult-hero's new team had their best season in 2024/25. After qualifying for the UEFA Europa Conference League, Pafos finished 12th and made it through to the round of 16 where they were beaten by the Swedish side Djurgården.

So, best of luck to David Luiz in Cyprus. May the passes still be audacious, the tackles still calamitous, and the charisma still overflowing. Because whatever you think of him, the game’s a bit more entertaining when he’s playing.