Leandro Trossard to Besiktas: Arsenal Forward Closing in on £17m Exit

Arsenal Edging Towards Leandro Trossard Sale as Besiktas Agree €20m Deal

Arsenal are progressing towards the sale of Leandro Trossard, with Turkish side Besiktas having agreed a deal worth €20m (£17.1m) for the Belgian forward, according to The Athletic. The move would bring an end to Trossard's 18-month stint at the Emirates, during which he has largely served as a squad player under Mikel Arteta.

Context: Trossard's Time at Arsenal

Trossard joined Arsenal from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2023 for an initial £21m, with add-ons potentially taking the fee to £27m. He made an immediate impact, contributing to the title push in the second half of the 2022-23 season with seven goals and two assists in 22 appearances across all competitions. However, his influence waned in 2023-24, as he started only 12 Premier League matches, scoring four times and providing one assist. His versatility across the front line—operating on either flank or as a central striker—made him a useful rotational option, but Arteta appears to have prioritised other attacking combinations, notably with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and new addition Declan Rice pushing forward.

Impact on Arsenal's Tactical Setup

Trossard's departure would reduce Arteta's attacking depth, particularly on the left wing, where Martinelli has been the first choice but has struggled for consistency in recent months. Reiss Nelson, who has been linked with a summer exit himself, and Emile Smith Rowe—who has often been deployed centrally—are other options. Arsenal have been linked with a new wide forward in the transfer window, with names such as Eberechi Eze and Nico Williams reportedly on their radar. Losing Trossard for a fee around £17m, significantly less than what they paid for him, may be seen as necessary to free up wages and squad space for a younger, more direct profile.

Besiktas and the Turkish Market

Besiktas, who finished sixth in the Turkish Super Lig last season, are rebuilding under new management. The club have a history of bringing in experienced Premier League players—Dele Alli, for example, joined the Black Eagles on loan in 2022. Trossard's technical ability, creativity, and experience in European competitions would be an asset in their attempt to challenge Galatasaray and Fenerbahce for the title. The €20m fee is within Besiktas's typical spending range, though it represents a risk given Trossard's age (29) and inconsistent form.

What This Means for Fantasy Premier League Managers

Trossard is currently owned by 7.8% of FPL managers and is priced at £6.5m. With Arsenal's favourable opening fixtures—Wolves, Aston Villa, and Brighton in the first three gameweeks—his ownership may drop if the transfer is completed. Managers holding Trossard should monitor the situation closely, as his departure would free up funds for alternative mid-priced midfielders like Jarrod Bowen (£7.0m) or James Maddison (£7.5m).

Transfer Market Perspective

£17m for a 29-year-old squad player who has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot is a reasonable fee in the current market. Comparable deals include Riyad Mahrez's £30m move to Al-Ahli last summer (similar age, higher profile), or Hakim Ziyech's loan-to-buy to Galatasaray. Arsenal are likely to reinvest the funds into a younger wide player with higher upside, aligning with their long-term squad-building strategy under Arteta and sporting director Edu.

Trossard has scored 11 goals and provided 6 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal.
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League 2023-24, five points behind Manchester City.
Besiktas have not won the Turkish Super Lig since 2020-21, finishing 46 points behind champions Galatasaray last term.

What's Next for All Parties

Arsenal will aim to finalise the Trossard sale quickly to use the funds to secure their primary transfer targets before the 30 August deadline. Besiktas will hope to complete the medical and registration promptly to integrate Trossard into their pre-season preparations. For Trossard, a move to Turkey offers a fresh start as a guaranteed starter, with the chance to showcase his abilities in the Super Lig and potentially in UEFA Conference League qualifying—a competition Besiktas will enter in the third qualifying round.