Arsenal agree to terminate Ozil contract allowing a free transfer this month


Mesut Ozil will leave Arsenal this month as a free agent after coming to a mututal agreement with the club to terminate his contract, The Athletic reports.

The German's seven-and-a-half year association with the Gunners will come to a disappointing end having not made a single appearance in 2020/21, last turning out for the club in March of 2020.

It is at least fitting that the 32-year-old signed off with an assist for the only goal in that game, having been such a creative force for the club in the years that followed his arrival from Real Madrid in 2013.

Indeed, the Germany international created 558 chances in the Premier League during his Arsenal career, from 184 appearances. Only former Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen managed more in Ozil's time in England, though the Dane made 42 more appearances and created just 13 more chances.

 

 

All in all, Ozil scored 33 league goals for the club and registered 54 assists in that time but leaves the club having had disagreements with both Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta that have seen him forced to train with the U23s at times.

Assuming there are no issues with his contract or medical, Ozil looks set to sign for Fenerbahce - the Super Lig club he supported as a child due to his Turkish heritage - in a deal that is sure to excite fans in Istanbul.

 

He will need to prove his fitness more so than his quality but will join a club that is back in the running in a title race between the country's three biggest teams and rivals, sandwiched between Besiktas and Galatasary as things stand, who are separated by just two points ahead of the weekend.