Laurent Koscielny: Bordeaux sign defender from Arsenal

By David OrnsteinBBC Sport

Last updated on 6 August 2019.From the section European Football346

Arsenal have sold defender Laurent Koscielny to Ligue 1 side Bordeaux for a fee of up to 5m euros (£4.6m).

The 33-year-old centre-back had a 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.

But he asked for a free transfer and refused to travel on a pre-season tour of the United States.

"We decided to sanction his move to Bordeaux once we agreed acceptable transfer terms," Arsenal said in a statement.

"We thank Laurent for his contribution to the club and wish him all the best for the future."

Former France international Koscielny rejected a new Gunners contract that he felt undervalued his contribution and continued ability.

Arsenal began 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.

Talks also took place with Bordeaux's Ligue 1 rivals Rennes.

Arsenal hope to sign a new centre-back before the Premier League's transfer deadline at 17:00 BST on Thursday, while they retain an interest in Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney despite the 22-year-old Scotland international being injured.

The Gunners are also in advanced talks over the sale of English right-back Carl Jenkinson, 27, to Championship side Nottingham Forest.

However, Arsenal have received no firm offers for defender Shkodran Mustafi and attempts to move the 27-year-old German on are further complicated by his desire to stay.

But foreign clubs have longer to negotiate a deal, depending on when their transfer windows close.

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

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346 comments

Comment posted by SweeperKeeper, at 08:27 6 Aug 2019
Please return me to the time when being a captain meant something.
Comment posted by Henrys underpants, at 08:30 6 Aug 2019
Perhaps the best way out for both parties.

A sad ending for both player and fans though.
Comment posted by Wookie, at 08:41 6 Aug 2019
Laurent you’ve been a great servant to Arsenal, it’s a shame you had to end it like this ☹️
Comment posted by HarryWinch, at 08:27 6 Aug 2019
Hate to see players successfully forcing a move, would've loved to see him rot with the U23's for a while until he swallowed his pride. No player is ever bigger than the club they play for.
Comment posted by cheezystraw, at 08:25 6 Aug 2019
He can finally put his toys back in his pram now.
Comment posted by Steve Tudor, at 08:55 6 Aug 2019
It's a shame it ended this way, until this summer he's been a great servant of the club, there may well be more to it than we know but it's a bit of a sour note to end on. But I wish him well.
Comment posted by Nick H, at 08:32 6 Aug 2019
We don't know all the facts, but he seems to have himself down after being a solid player for Arsenal over the years.
Comment posted by Reyes_9, at 08:34 6 Aug 2019
Thanks for the 9 years, not hugely impressed with forcing the move but at least we get circa 5,000,000 off of the wage bill and probably another 3 or 4 million in compensation.
Comment posted by Josserand, at 08:48 6 Aug 2019
Contrary to some of the posts here, Koscielny developed into a very solid defender while at Arsenal. And circa 2015-17 some were calling him one of the best centerbacks in the PL, certainly Arsenal’s best defender.
As a team captain, I don’t think he had the personality for it, but many players do not.

However I’m sorry to see his departure happen in this way. I think one day he may regret it.
Comment posted by gougeaway84, at 09:53 6 Aug 2019
Wenger Out!
Comment posted by Pete_B, at 09:44 6 Aug 2019
I think the deal is best for both parties. Koscielny has been declining for the past 2 seasons, and in my opinion even with his age and experience hasn’t shown the leadership qualities you’d expect. We do need a quality replacement though if we have any chance of a top 4 finish this season, so you guys need to get cracking now to get someone in.
Comment posted by Genuine Matt, at 09:04 6 Aug 2019
Always been a massive fan of Koscielny. He was up there with the best at times. Cant forgive the way he went about this. Have to question the people behind him making club captain turn his back. We were all happy for you to go, just not like this.
Comment posted by loughtongooner85, at 08:58 6 Aug 2019
He has shown his mentality with his actions this summer, which has been a huge problem for Arsenal in terms of becoming a winning club again. He was our captain and approaching his testimonial era and he acts like a spoilt teenager.

Players have been hiding behind wengers and now Kroenkes wall for years. Some of the performances have been absolutely disgraceful. Time to get some real men in!
Comment posted by CarefreeCoors, at 21:39 6 Aug 2019
Absolutely disgraceful that a player can force a move by simply refusing to turn up. You've signed a contract; you're legally obligated to comply with it. Arsenal should've sacked him, then sued him for breach of contract. Someone has to stand up to this "player power" rubbish so contracts actually mean something again.
Comment posted by paul hirst, at 09:53 6 Aug 2019
Koscielny has acted like a kid throwing a temper tantrum over all this, he hasent behaved like the experienced professional he's meant to be. Hes probably given the best years of his career to Arsenal but thats no excuse for acting like a wally to push through a move back to his homeland. Either way its left Arsenal in a pickle as now they may have to rely even more on the hopeless Mustafi.
Comment posted by Rob, at 10:33 6 Aug 2019
Clearly something went on behind the scenes so it's difficult to completely blame Koscielny without knowing the facts. But I do think the ignorance or perhaps arrogance of Arsenal/Emery for not buying better central defenders will come back and bite them. Leno will be a very busy keeper this season.
Comment posted by Raedwulf, at 19:49 6 Aug 2019
Been a decent player for the Gunners, but urgh! Has he been taking lessons from Arnautovic in how to engineer a move? This sort of thing seems to be on the rise & leaves a sour taste. Not that the players appear to give a damn!
Comment posted by joey707, at 18:45 6 Aug 2019
Spurs fan here
I would detest any player who has acted in this manner. Unless of course there is some hidden agenda. Unfortunately that's football today and this is the new norm, along with running down their contracts to get what they want. Sickening greed as far as I'm concerned.
Comment posted by User0951003248, at 11:18 6 Aug 2019
this article needs a proof reader
Comment posted by lvred, at 13:19 6 Aug 2019
Mixed feelings - Koscielny's given the club good service, but, likewise, the club has stuck by him when the injuries built up. We don't know what happened behind the scenes, but this could have been handled with more dignity on both sides. Now we're stuck with two days to go with a real defensive problem - suddenly Utd's purchase of Maguire at an obscene price is looking quite attractive.