Arsenal must complete first major summer signing after Leandro Trossard exit

Leandro Trossard's stoic three-and-a-half-year spell at Arsenal is set to come to an end, with his move to Besiktas confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.

The Belgian signed from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2023 for just £27 million and was expected to fulfil a squad role for a short period before moving on. However, his stint in North London has proven to be much more impactful than anyone could have imagined.

Making 174 appearances and scoring 36 goals in a red and white shirt, Trossard has secured legendary status in N5 after playing an integral role in Mikel Arteta's side's title-winning campaign in 2025/26.

Now, a new chapter awaits for the 31-year-old, and this end-of-an-era move could kickstart what has been a sleepy window for the Gunners to date.

Arsenal confirm Leandro Trossard is signing for Besiktas

As soon as the 2025/26 season came to an end, attention for Arteta and Andrea Berta turned to the transfer window and to bolstering the squad at their disposal. The Gunners may have won the league, but the club's hierarchy aren't prepared to rest on their laurels, as they attempt to build a dynasty over the coming years.

Unfortunately for Trossard, the former Brighton man is part of a department in Arteta's ensemble that is in clear need of renovation. The Belgium international and his Brazilian counterpart, Gabriel Martinelli, may have played important roles in taking Arsenal to the promised land, but a dynamic new left-hand side could clearly elevate the level of the North Londoners' attack.

Thus, Trossard and his representatives have been exploring their options since the domestic season ended, and a deal is now imminent.

Reports emerged last week suggesting that Besiktas have agreed a deal worth €20 million (€18 million up front plus €2 million in add-ons) for Arsenal's cult hero. These reports have now been verified, with the club's official X account confirming on Tuesday afternoon that an agreement has been reached with the Turkish giants.

"We have reached an agreement with Beşiktaş for the permanent transfer of Leandro Trossard," the post read.

"We will provide a further update once the transfer has been completed."

Trossard is currently in Istanbul to complete his move, which is now understood to be merely subject to a medical and paperwork completion.

Arsenal will surely complete Cristos Tzolis signing after Leandro Trossard's exit

While the likes of Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola continue to be linked with a move to the Emirates, Trossard's exit is expected to be a catalyst for a different signing.

The Gunners have been quiet in the market thus far, but the departure of one of their key contributors should change that. Club Brugge's Christos Tzolis is viewed as the direct replacement for Trossard, and this deal should accelerate now that the ex-Gent man is gone.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed last week that Arsenal have been in regular contact with Tzolis' camp, and that the Gunners will make their move once Trossard is out of the picture. Back in June, David Ornstein suggested that a deal could be struck between the Gunners and the Belgian Pro-League side for around £34 million.

Given Tzolis is said to be keen on the move, and the fee required to land him is modest by Premier League standards, Berta should have no issue getting a deal across the line quickly for the Greek international. The Italian has incentive to do so, as the player will need time to settle in North London and acclimatise to Arteta's demands before the new campaign kicks off.

Tzolis enjoyed an exceptionally productive season in 2025/26, scoring 22 goals and providing 29 assists across all competitions. That said, the step up to the Premier League is significant, and he needs time to prepare himself for it.

The pressure is on Berta to move with pace in the coming weeks, and he now has no excuses not to pull off his first major piece of summer business.

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