Mikel Arteta has given three Arsenal players the green light to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer as the Spaniard continues his major squad overhaul. The Gunners boss went into this transfer window knowing he had to improve the quality of his squad to retain the Premier League title next season.
The first step is to offload players who fall short of the required standard, while the second is to bring in signings that address gaps in the squad.
Kiwior and Hein depart
Jakub Kiwior was the first player shown the door by Arteta this summer. The Pole completed a permanent switch to Porto earlier this month for £14.6 million plus add-ons, following a loan spell with the Portuguese club last season. This follows the arrival of Piero Hincapie as a direct upgrade at the start of the 2025/26 campaign. Hincapie quickly became a crowd favourite at the Emirates Stadium last term, thanks to his dependable and passionate displays at the back, which proved crucial to their title triumph and earned him his own £34.5 million permanent deal at N5 last month. He was the direct successor to Kiwior as a physically imposing defender comfortable at both centre-back and left-back — only of a higher quality. Kiwior was well aware his opportunities in north London would be restricted even before Hincapie's arrival last summer, and Arteta granted him the chance to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere.
Former reserve shot-stopper Karl Hein has also turned his loan move to Werder Bremen into a permanent transfer this month. The 24-year-old made his first-team debut in the EFL Cup third round clash against Brighton back in November 2022. But that proved to be his only outing for the Gunners as he failed to establish himself in the first-team. Hein, who has been Estonia's number one at international level since 2020, was sent out on loan to Reading, Real Valladolid and Werder Bremen, with his spell in Germany coming last term. His permanent move to Bremen was confirmed in May, demonstrating he was also deemed surplus to requirements, with the move getting the green light from Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta. In his place, Arsenal boast several deputies to David Raya, including 20-year-old Tommy Setford, Kepa Arrizabalaga and the recently-signed Illan Meslier, who arrived on a free transfer from Leeds United earlier this month after putting pen to paper on a two-year contract.
Trossard moves to Besiktas
Perhaps the most notable exit this summer has been Leandro Trossard's £17 million move to Besiktas, confirmed last week. The Belgian was key in Arsenal clinching the title during the latter stages of last season, though his departure wasn't necessarily unexpected. Aged 31 and with just 12 months remaining on his Arsenal contract, it was, in Arteta's view, the ideal moment to cash in on Trossard while creating the chance to enhance the left-wing role with fresh talent. Christos Tzolis has been recruited as Trossard's successor for a sum of £34 million, taking Arsenal's summer spending to £68.5 million. The Greek winger, 24, was brought in to deliver vital cover on the left side. Tzolis, who spent three seasons at Norwich City between 2021 and 2024, enjoyed an outstanding spell for Club Brugge last term, having registered 51 goal involvements across 52 matches.
Such deals have set things in motion in N5. While they may not prove as headline-grabbing as some of their competitors splashing over £100 million on marquee players, they showcase astute business from both Arteta and Berta. However, there is still considerable work to be done, with further exits anticipated as part of Arsenal's summer overhaul. Other players who could receive the green light to seek new pastures include Christian Norgaard, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and potentially Ethan Nwaneri. More signings are also likely, with some £180 million of the £250 million budget Arteta was allocated this summer yet to be used. A world-class forward, a central midfielder and a defender are expected to arrive before the window closes on September 1.
