• Transfer news

Arsenal star joins Marseille on €10.5m deal

Arsenal
© Ace Football
Advertisement

A successful loan spell has convinced the Ligue 1 heavyweights to activate to sign the Arsenal star.

Matteo Guendouzi has completed a permanent transfer to Marseille, joining the French side from Arsenal on a €10.5 million deal.

Having fallen out of favour at Emirates, Guendouzi moved to Stade Velodrome on a loan deal in July 2021.

The French midfielder soon rediscovered his best form, becoming a key player in Marseille’s squad. The club, who finished second in Ligue 1 last season, have awarded Guendouzi a permanent contract ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

SurfsharkVPN
All you need in a VPN — and more

“As part of the agreement with Marseille, Matteo has made his move permanent after spending 2021/22 on loan with the Ligue 1 club,” Arsenal confirmed on their official website.

Guendouzi found a brilliant start to his Arsenal career after a move from Lorient in 2018. However, his lack of game time under Mikel Arteta convinced him to look for a move away from the Emirates.

An underwhelming loan spell at Hertha Berlin in 2020-21 came next for the former Arsenal man. But then, a loan spell back in his home country helped Guendouzi improve his form.

In his 55 appearances for Marseille last season, Guendouzi scored five goals and provided 14 assists. Following a successful Ligue 1 campaign, the Olympians managed to qualify for the Champions League.

Guendouzi’s new deal comes after the club’s unexpected announcement regarding the departure of manager Jorge Sampaoli. The Argentine boss took charge at Marseille in February 2021, but the club decided to part ways with him before the expiration of his contract in June 2023.

x