A few hours after signing for Bordeaux for a fee said to be around £4.6million, French man and Ex-Arsenal Captain, Laurent Koscielny has taken to his social media page to explain to the world why he decided to leave the club.
The 33-year-old centre-back who still had a year left on his contract with Arsenal, before he refused to go on a preseason tour with the team, and his eventual departure to Bordeaux, had this to say about his transfer. He said:
“As you know i engaged with @girondins. After 9 years spent at Arsenal, i took the decision to leave.
I have spent wonderful years with this club, nine years during which i learned, evolved, grew up.
This experience made me the player I am today. My decision to leave has been discussed for months with my club, my teammates, my coach, and it has been a well thought decision.
I see this departure like a new turning point in my life as a player but also in in my life as a man and a family man.
However I hope you understand, and in any case i cannot be thankful enough for these years past at Arsenal. I am aware of everything that the club and you supporters have brought to me. But it is time for me to go home so today my will is to join the @girondins. This is a new challenge that I count on taking with determination.
Lolo”
Laurent Koscielny had his medical on Tuesday and has returned to France after nine years with the Premier League club.
Frenchman Koscielny had a year left on his contract at Emirates Stadium and the Gunners wanted him to stay. He rejected a new Gunners contract that he felt undervalued his contribution and continued ability.
Arsenal afterwards, began a disciplinary proceedings and instructed the captain to train with the under-23s, but offered him a way back into the first-team squad for the new season.
However, Koscielny had no intention of reversing his decision and was determined to secure a move to his home country, which he has finally done.