Arsenal have confirmed the departure of midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga to La Liga side Sevilla. The 24-year-old will join Los Nervionenses on a one-year loan deal, with Sevilla holding a €12 million buy option. If Sevilla exercise this option, a 25% sell-on clause will be included.
Arsenal offload out-of-favour midfielder Lokonga
Lokonga will be looking to rejuvenate his career after a rather unsuccessful three-year stint with the Gunners. Earlier this year, the Belgium international said, “My time at Arsenal is slowly coming to an end, I think so. I had a discussion with the club and what was said is that the best solution for me was to leave.”
A box-to-box midfielder, Lokonga was signed by Arsenal from Anderlecht in 2021 for a reported fee of £17 million. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was reportedly impressed with the youngster’s intelligence and maturity. Lokonga made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2021/22 Premier League season, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 away loss to Brentford.
However, Lokonga struggled for game time at Arsenal, making just 12 starts in his first season. After being sporadically used in the first half of the next season, he was loaned out to Crystal Palace but struggled for minutes there as well. Lokonga then spent another season on loan at Premier League newcomers Luton Town, where he managed 16 starts. A hamstring injury ruled him out for almost three months, causing him to miss more than 10 Premier League games. Despite Luton Town’s relegation, Lokonga put in some solid displays for the Hatters.
Returning to North London without being in Arteta’s plans, Lokonga’s last Premier League appearance for Arsenal came back in October 2022 as a substitute in a 3-1 derby win over Tottenham. He will now be looking to get regular game time with Sevilla. With his impressive ball-carrying abilities and high work rate, Arsenal will be hoping to recoup a sizable chunk of the £17 million they initially paid for him.
Departures opens door for midfield rebuild
Alongside Lokogna, Emile-Smith Rowe has also been subject to links away from Arsenal. The Hale End graduate is struggling for a game at the Emirates Stadium, which could push him to move away from the North Londoners this summer. Premier League rivals Fulham and Crystal Palace have been vying for his signatures, with a $35 million bid rejected by the Gunners for the 2000-born midfielder.
Charlie Patino has also been linked with a move away from London Colney after the club overlooked the former Swansea City midfielder for the ongoing United States pre-season tour in 2024/25. Once tagged, the next Wilshere at Hale End could also be looking to conclude a move away from N5.
All these departures could pave the way for arrivals in the midfielder position at Arsenal.
The Gunners have been looking to acquire a new midfielder this summer, and if the aforementioned players join Lokogna in a move away from Arsenal, the club could look to sign one, perhaps two, new players.
The likes of Mikel Merino and Eze have been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, and could we, the club, actively pursue one of those players going into the upcoming campaign?
