Arsenal and Besiktas have reached a definitive agreement for the permanent transfer of Leandro Trossard, bringing the Belgian forward’s three-and-a-half-year stay in north London to a close. The 31-year-old was granted permission to travel to Istanbul on Tuesday evening to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms, both clubs confirmed in coordinated statements. The deal, as reported by British and Indonesian outlets, is structured around a guaranteed £15.3 million (€18 million) plus a further £1.7 million (€2 million) in performance-related add-ons.

Trossard leaves the Emirates having played a decisive role in Arsenal’s first league title in 22 years. Across 174 appearances in all competitions, he registered 36 goals and 34 assists, but his influence was most sharply felt in the defining moments of last season. A dramatic late winner against West Ham in May kept the title charge on course, and he started the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, providing the assist for Kai Havertz’s early opener in a match Arsenal ultimately lost on penalties. He also featured in all six of Belgium’s matches at the 2026 World Cup, scoring twice as they reached the quarter-finals.

The move underscores the growing pulling power of Turkish Süper Lig clubs in the current transfer window. Besiktas, last crowned champions in 2021, have already appointed Vincenzo Italiano as head coach and are rebuilding aggressively. Across Istanbul, Fenerbahce confirmed the €39 million capture of Mason Greenwood from Olympique Marseille, with the fee to be paid in three annual instalments. Viewed from Istanbul, the twin arrivals signal a determined push by the city’s traditional powers to reclaim domestic supremacy and make an impression in European competition.

For Arsenal, Trossard’s departure accelerates a planned reshaping of the attack. British press reports indicate that Club Brugge’s Greek international Christos Tzolis, valued at around £30 million, is the immediate target, with sporting director Andrea Berta working on a deal after his scouting team monitored the 24-year-old during the recent international break. Longer-term interest in Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez persists, though competition from Barcelona and Real Madrid complicates any move. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola are also under consideration, while recruitment specialist Maurizio Micheli has been tracking Georgian teenager Andria Bartishvili as a future investment.

Trossard’s medical in Istanbul is the final formality before he is unveiled as a Besiktas player. Once completed, the Black Eagles will have secured a forward with proven pedigree at the highest levels of English and European football, while Arsenal turn their attention to a summer of renewal designed to build on a historic campaign.