While many of Arsenal’s best players have been academy graduates or signed for big money, sometimes a bargain can be had with a player on a free transfer.
This is indeed rare, and a lot of players who join Arsenal either underwhelm or have middling careers with the Gunners, including Willian, perhaps the worst signing in the club’s modern history, but sometimes a brilliant player is brought in for free.
With that said, here are five of the best free transfers in Arsenal history, ranked.
5 – John Lukic
It was either John Lukic or Cedric Soares in contention for fifth place, but the feel-good factor around Lukic and his return to the club were big assets to Arsene Wenger as Arsenal started to rise to the top again in the late 1990s.
Lukic would only end up playing 21 times for the Gunners upon rejoining the club, but was a solid second choice option in the 1996/97 season and played a few games as injury cover in his final season for the club in 2000/01.
4 – Sead Kolasinac
Sead Kolasinac was signed when his contract at Schalke expired in 2017, and would end up making 118 appearances for Arsenal, scoring five goals from lwft-back.
In his first three seasons for the club, he made more than 30 appearances in each season, before taking more of a bit-part role in his final two years under then-new Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta.
3 – Sylvinho
Arsenal’s first ever Brazilian player, Sylvinho played 55 league games for Arsenal from 1999 to 2001 after joining on a free transfer from Corinthians.
Sylvinho was able to take the first-choice left back role over club legend Nigel Winterburn, and picked up a spot in the 2000/01 PFA Team of the Year award after a strong second season.
2 – Mathieu Flamini
Mathieu Flamini’s return to Arsenal in 2013 was something of an unexpected reunion. After leaving AC Milan, the midfielder had started to train with the Gunners to maintain his fitness, but with Arsene Wenger short of options in midfield, a permanent deal soon followed.
The Frenchman enjoyed an impressive start, playing a key role as Arsenal secured another top-four finish. While his influence waned in the years that followed, he still produced memorable moments in his second stint with the club.
1 – Sol Campbell
While moving from Tottenham to Arsenal was an immensely risky move for Sol Campbell given that he was one of their best players at the time, and the move earned him the nickname ‘Judas.’
However, he was nothing short of an icon during his time at Highbury after joining in 2001. Two Premier League titles and a key part to play in Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003/04 season are enough to easily put him as the best free transfer in Arsenal’s history.
