Leandro Trossard’s departure from Arsenal is no longer just a possibility. The question now is whether Mikel Arteta is ready to lose one of his most reliable problem-solvers before the club has completed the next version of its left flank.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Besiktas have already reached a club-to-club agreement with Arsenal for Trossard. The reported package is worth €18 million plus €2 million in add-ons, with the player now due to negotiate personal terms.
Arseblog News has also reported that the clubs have agreed the framework of the deal, leaving Trossard’s side as the decisive part of the process. ReadArsenal has already covered how Besiktas agreed a transfer fee with Arsenal for Leandro Trossard, turning weeks of interest into a proper exit route.
Why Arsenal Are Listening Now
The reasoning is straightforward. At 31, Trossard has a year left on his Arsenal deal and occupies that tricky space between reliable performer and long-term uncertainty.
Since joining from Brighton in January 2023, the Belgian has given Arsenal great value, filling roles as winger, false nine, impact sub, and emergency starter – sometimes all within the same stretch of games.
The numbers show why this is not a routine squad sale. talkSPORT notes that Trossard has produced 36 goals and 34 assists in 174 Arsenal appearances. That is not fringe-player output. It is the record of a versatile forward who repeatedly gave Arteta answers when games became awkward.
Arsenal need to stay disciplined. Holding onto Trossard for another year would maintain squad depth, but it risks letting a valuable asset edge closer to a free transfer or fetching only a modest January fee.
A €20 million deal would give Arsenal the flexibility to refresh without dismantling the squad, aligning with the club’s broader approach of evolving from a position of strength rather than waiting for decline.
The Left-Wing Issue Gets Sharper
The real risk isn’t just losing Trossard, but losing him before a proper succession plan is in place.
Arsenal’s search for a left-sided option has already featured names like Bradley Barcola, Christos Tzolis, and Ander Barrenetxea, while Gabriel Martinelli’s end product remains part of the discussion. On the other side, Bukayo Saka’s heavy workload makes attacking depth a concern beyond just one position.
Trossard brought a unique kind of reliability – comfortable under pressure, quick to combine, able to drift inside, finish first time, and adapt to limited minutes without needing a long run in the side. Those qualities might not headline transfer plans, but Arteta has relied on them often.
ReadArsenal has also looked at how Trossard’s Belgium form created a harder transfer call during the World Cup. His performances have only sharpened the contrast between football usefulness and financial timing.
If Besiktas agree personal terms, Arsenal will lose one of the squad’s cleanest game-state players. A younger, quicker winger may offer more upside, but replacing Trossard’s intelligence is not as simple as buying pace.
