Arsenal ‘reject shock £29.5m bid from Saudi giants Al Ittihad for Leandro Trossard’ – as Mikel Arteta’s side insist the winger is ‘not for sale’ and remains a ‘key member’ of their squad

Arsenal have reportedly rejected a surprise £29.5million bid from Saudi Pro League giants Al Ittihad for Leandro Trossard.

Although the transfer deadline has already passed in England and Scotland, clubs from Saudi Arabia can still sign players.

This means that Mikel Arteta’s team will not be able to sign a replacement for the Belgian if they sell him.

According to The Athletic, the Saudi Pro League club have made a preliminary offer for a season-long loan, with a transfer fee of £4.2 million and an obligation to buy the player next summer for a fee between £16 million and £21 million (€20-25 million).

According to Arsenal’s press release, the 29-year-old is not for sale regardless of the price as he is a key part of Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Arsenal have reportedly rejected a £29.5million bid for Belgian winger Leandro Trossard

Mikel Arteta’s team have rejected the offer from Saudi giants Al Ittihad

The 29-year-old joined Arsenal from Brighton in January 2023 for a fee of £27million. He has scored 19 goals and provided 12 assists in 71 games.

If Trossard had agreed to the move, he would have joined Saudi club Al-Ittihad, joining players such as Karim Benzema, Moussa Diaby and N’Golo Kante.

There were doubts over Trossard’s place in Arsenal’s squad for the 2024-25 season after Raheem Sterling arrived on the final day of the competition.

On a dramatic day as the transfer deadline approached and Jadon Sancho was close to a move to Stamford Bridge, the Gunners immediately snapped up Sterling from their London rivals, looking set to finally end their attempts to sign a new striker.

There is no obligation to buy an option in the deal, which was completed in the early hours of Saturday morning.

“It’s an incredible feeling. It’s really exciting. I’m absolutely thrilled,” Sterling said.

“It’s one that we kind of pushed back on a little bit, but it’s one that I was hoping for. When I look at everything, I just think, ‘This is the perfect fit for me,’ and I’m super happy that we made it.

“I spoke to (sporting director) Edu and I said, ‘You see the real camaraderie from Mikel’s time here and you see the journey the boys are on.’

“You see the hunger and I keep repeating it: the togetherness is something I want to be a part of.”

Trossard could have joined players like Karim Benzema (left) and Moussa Diaby (right)

Arsenal sealed a season-long loan deal for Raheem Sterling on the final day of the deadline

Mail Sport reported on Thursday that Arsenal have been offered Sterling and Kingsley Coman by Bayern Munich.

And Arsenal made their interest in Sterling official on Friday afternoon, before the formalities of the deal were completed.