The emotional attachment to this current squad is so real, but the desire for new signings is just as strong.
We want the squad depth without the heartbreak of saying goodbye! 😭
Arsenal bought Leandro Trossard from Brighton in January 2023 for an initial £20 million, with add-ons taking the headline figure to £27 million. He signed a four and a half year deal running to the summer of 2027.
Three and a half years later, Besiktas have agreed €20 million, roughly £17 million, to take him off Arsenal's hands with one year left on that contract.
Let's talk about what this actually means for lay men and for a club financially, because the number looks underwhelming until you understand how football accounting works.
When a club signs a player, the transfer fee is not recorded as an immediate expense. It is spread evenly across the length of the contract, a process called amortization. I have written about this before.
Arsenal paid £20 million guaranteed and spread that over 4.5 years. By July 2026, approximately 3.5 years have elapsed, meaning roughly 78% of that cost has already been written off the books. The remaining book value sitting on Arsenal's balance sheet is somewhere around £4.4 to £6 million depending on which fee figure you use.
So when Besiktas pay £17 million for a player whose book value is roughly £5 million, Arsenal are booking a profit of somewhere between £11 and £12 million on a player entering the final year of his deal.
That is actually quite smart business. A 32 year old with one year left on his contract and a player who, whatever his contributions, was never going to be a first team starter.
Getting £17 million for him rather than watching him walk away for nothing next summer is exactly the kind of decision that keeps clubs on the right side of PSR.
I think Arsenal have done well. What do you think?
My name is Ajoje. I am a FIFA Licensed Agent and International Sports Lawyer. I write on the Law and Business of Football, a lot. Repost and Follow if you want to read more posts like this.
1 - Cabo Verde became the first African nation to score more than one goal in a World Cup match against the defending champions.
They were also the second African nation to score 2+ goals in a WC match against Argentina, after Nigeria in 2014.
Audacity. 🦈
Trossard has been such a good signing. One of the best value for money deals Arsenal have done in many years. He produced so consistently and stood up in so many big moments.
It always felt inevitable this would be the summer he would go and the deal feels pretty good considering age, wages and contract length, but his exit leaves a big hole in the squad that now needs to be filled with genuine quality.
That goal at West Ham, what a moment. So huge. A moment that ensures that if this deal does get finalised, he will forever have hero status at Arsenal.
🇧🇪 🫡
Drew with Spain ✅
Drew with Uruguay ✅
Didn't lose a game in normal time ✅
Pushed the holders to the limit ✅
Their 2026 adventure is over, but what an incredible first World Cup for Cape Verde! 🇨🇻
THANK YOU, JA! 💙🐻 You didn't just play for Memphis—you embodied the Grind City. From gravity-defying dunks to unforgettable playoff thrills, your legacy will forever echo in FedExForum. Best of luck, 12!
Will forever be one of the coolest memories of my career.
First game back off a 25-game suspension, down by as many as 24.
Ja put the team on his back, repeatedly cooked an elite perimeter in Herb Jones late—straight iso for the game-winning bucket at the horn.
A showman.
Thank you for the unforgettable moments, the electric nights at FedExForum, and for representing this city with passion. Memphis embraced you from day one, and that love won’t fade. Thank you, Ja💙 #choose901
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you @JaMorant 💙
We’ll always remember the investment you made towards Memphis, not just as a player, but as a person. You showed up for our community with a genuine love for the people who call this city home. 〽️
🐻 2x All-Star
🐻 All-NBA Second Team
🐻 Rookie of the Year
🐻 All-Rookie First Team
🐻 Most Improved Player
🐻 Franchise record for points in a single game (52)
12, thank you for every highlight, every memory, every unforgettable moment and for all you've given this team, this community and this city. From the 〽️ with love 💙
Thank you @JaMorant for 7 great years.