Arsenal have announced the signing of Leandro Trossard in a £27million transfer from Premier League rivals Brighton.
The Belgium winger, 28, has become the Gunners' first arrival of the January transfer window and gives Mikel Arteta a welcome addition in attack as he masterminds a charge towards the title. He will wear to No.19 shirt for the Gunners.
Trossard had less than 18 months to run on his contract with the Seagulls - after the club activated a one-season extension earlier in January - before Arsenal swooped in.
Sporting director Edu was able to capitalise on a breakdown in relations between the player and Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi to get the deal over the line. De Zerbi was unhappy with Trossard's attitude after his return from the World Cup in Qatar and banished him from training, prompting a vitriolic response from the Belgian's agent.
Leandro Trossard is on the way to Emirates Stadium (CameraSport via Getty Images)Edu said: "We’re delighted to have completed the signing of Leandro Trossard. We have a clear plan and strategy for our direction, and it’s been a great team effort in bringing Leandro to the club.
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"Leandro is a player who will give us a high level of quality going forward. I know Mikel and our coaches are excited to start working with him. Welcome Leandro!”
Manager Mikel Arteta added: “It is good work from everyone at the club to complete the signing of Leandro. He is a versatile player with high technical ability, intelligence and a great deal of experience in the Premier League and at international level.
"Leandro strengthens our squad as we head into the second part of the season and we’re all looking forward to working with him. We welcome Leandro and his family to Arsenal Football Club.”
Trossard has won 24 caps for Belgium (Manu Fernandez/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Chelsea and Tottenham were also interested in a January deal for the Genk academy graduate, but Arteta's league-leaders moved quickly to get the deal over the line. Trossard will provide much-needed competition for Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing - his natural position - to ease the burden on the 21-year-old's shoulders.
Leandro Trossard scored seven Premier League goals for Brighton this season (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)The departing Brighton star scored an eye-catching seven goals in 16 Premier League appearances this season, also chipping in with three assists to help the Seagulls far exceed expectations. But he joins a side with different aspirations altogether, with the prospect of a first Premier League triumph in 19 years a real possibility at Arsenal.
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The Gunners' successful bid for Trossard allowed them to get their own back at Chelsea after the Mykhaylo Mudryk saga of earlier in the January window. The Blues signed the Ukraine winger, 22, in a mammoth £87million transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk despite Arsenal submitting multiple bids for the player.
Arteta and Edu quickly moved on to identify Trossard as their next target and secured the deal which will strengthen Arsenal's title charge.
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