Leandro Trossard has completed his move to Beşiktaş for £17m as Arsenal reshapes its left wing. The Belgian, 31 with one year left on his contract, departs after 174 appearances and 36 goals in three and a half seasons. His exit clears the way for Mikel Arteta's pursuit of Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa.

Arsenal's left-wing overhaul

The timing of Trossard's departure favors Arsenal. At 31 with a year remaining, he risked becoming a free agent next summer. The £17m fee (£15.3m initial plus £1.7m add-ons) recovers most of the £27m Arsenal invested when he arrived in January 2023. Sky Sports summarized the logic: "this is a good time to recoup a lot of the £27m spent on him with Trossard now 31 and having one year left on his contract."

Yet Trossard leaves as a cult hero, not a fading player. Of his 27 Premier League goals, 17 either put Arsenal level or ahead, a record matched only by Bukayo Saka since his arrival. His most decisive contribution came on May 10, when his goal against West Ham effectively clinched the Premier League title—a moment that defined his Arsenal legacy more than any single season could.

Morgan Rogers represents Mikel Arteta's vision for the left wing going forward. The 23-year-old Aston Villa winger commands a valuation around £130m, reflecting both his potential and market inflation. Negotiations have stalled because Rogers is involved with England at the World Cup this summer. According to the Evening Standard, "Arteta has been keen to upgrade the left-hand side of his attack, to make room for priority target Morgan Rogers," underscoring how central the deal is to the manager's summer vision.

The left-wing reshuffle extends further. Gabriel Martinelli, whose contract runs until summer 2027, has been made available for transfer this summer. The dual moves—Trossard's exit and Martinelli's availability—represent a comprehensive overhaul of Arsenal's left flank.

For Arsenal, attention now turns to Rogers and whether Mikel Arteta can conclude the deal. The 23-year-old's World Cup involvement has paused negotiations, but once the tournament concludes, the Gunners will need to move decisively. If successful, Rogers would complete an ambitious left-wing refresh that began with Trossard's departure.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →