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‘Outstanding’ player suggests he doesn’t want to come back to Arsenal after loan spell
One Arsenal player’s plans for the future do not include a return to the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have been busy since the turn of July. In terms of incomings, they have only turned David Raya’s loan into a permanent deal, but a lot of work has gone into offloading players.
Mika Biereth and Amario Cozier-Duberry have both left the club permanently as have Reuell Walters and Arthur Okonkwo. Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga have been loaned out again.
The latter has now made an interesting claim about his future at Arsenal.
Arsenal’s Albert Sambi Lokonga shares his plan for the future
Lokonga has been on Arsenal’s books since he joined the club from Anderlecht in the summer of 2021.
The Belgian is clearly a talented player. He produced a few terrific performances at the start of his Gunners career, but his form fell off the cliff in the second half of his debut season.
Lokonga didn’t get too many opportunities since the turn of 2022 at Arsenal, and he was loaned out twice – first to Crystal Palace and then to Luton Town.
Now, Arsenal have accepted an offer from Sevilla to send Lokonga on a season-long loan deal to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Lokonga cost Arsenal money – Fiorentina were ready to pay more for the Belgian but he only wanted to join the Spanish side this summer. The Gunners obliged.
Sevilla are not obligated to make Lokonga’s move permanent in the summer of 2025, which means there’s a realistic chance that they just decide to send him back to Arsenal.
However, if Lokonga’s latest comments are anything to go by, it looks like he has no interest in returning to North London. He has claimed that he wants to stay at Sevilla for ‘many years’.
He said in a press conference, as per the : “I have always thought about playing for Sevilla and today is the day. Thank you all for the opportunity I have to play for Sevilla.
“I hope to stay here for many years, because I have a lot to do and a lot to prove for the club.”
READ MORE: What Arsenal think will happen with Lokonga in 2025
Arsenal are set to make for a big loss
Arsenal signed Lokonga in the summer of 2021 for £18 million ().
The midfielder, branded as ‘outstanding‘ by Gary Neville on (February 18 2024; 5:50 pm) had the potential to be a star, but things just haven’t worked out for either party. A separation is the best thing for both Arsenal and Lokonga, and Sevilla have come to the rescue now.
However, the Spanish side have been really smart in negotiations.
Sevilla have retained the option of signing Lokonga on a permanent deal for just £10 million () – Arsenal will make a £8 million loss if that clause is triggered.
If Lokonga has an underwhelming campaign and Sevilla decide against signing him on a permanent deal, his value will surely drop below that £10 million figure, especially as he will enter the final year of his contract in July 2025.
If that happens, Arsenal will likely make an even bigger loss on Lokonga next year.