Koscielny departs Arsenal, signs three-year deal with Bordeaux

Bordeaux: Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny completed a return to France on Tuesday after agreeing a reported three-year deal with Ligue 1 club Bordeaux.

The French international, 33, made clear his desire for a move last month when he refused to travel on Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States. His standoff with the club reportedly came after the Gunners rejected his request to be released from the final year of his contract.

Koscielny was understood to be keen to move back to his homeland after nine seasons with Arsenal, having joined the Gunners in 2010 from Lorient.

“The club is delighted to be able to count on a player with such experience at the highest level,” Bordeaux said in a statement, after paying a fee believed to be worth between five and six million euros for Koscielny.

He played 353 games for Arsenal, winning the FA Cup three times, and was named club captain at the start of last season following the retirement of Per Mertesacker.

“We thank Laurent for his contribution to the club and wish him all the best for the future,” Arsenal said in a statement.

Koscielny made just 17 league appearances last term after sitting out the first half of the campaign as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The centre-back missed France’s 2018 World Cup triumph after sustaining the injury just before coach Didier Deschamps named his squad.

Koscielny earned the last of his 51 France caps in March 2018. He said in October he had intended to retire from international duty after the tournament in Russia.

Meanwhile, Lille have paid a club record 16.5 million euros ($18.4 million) for Trabzonspor’s Turkey attacking midfielder Yusuf Yazici, the French outfit announced on Tuesday.

The fee for 22-year-old Yazici, who has made 14 international appearances since his debut in 2017, beats the 14 million euros the Ligue 1 side spent on Brazilian playmaker Thiago Maia in 2017.

“He has great technical qualities, he has an ability to create space, a very high quality shot on goal and has a remarkable left-footed pass which will all improve our squad for the coming season,” Lille’s general manager Marc Ingla said.

Agence France-Presse