Mustafi to leave Arsenal on a free this summer

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:47 CDT
• 2 min read

Shkodran Mustafi will leave Arsenal at the end of his current contract after rejecting an extended deal earlier this year, with his father suggesting plans are already in place for his son’s next move,

After some better performances under Mikel Arteta last season after the departure of Unai Emery, the Gunners offered Mustafi a new deal to take him beyond his current contract which runs out in the summer of 2021. However, the German turned the offer down and told the club he would be leaving, according to Football London.

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Although there have been no concrete evidence of where Mustafi might go, his father suggested there are numerous opportunities in play.

“Nothing is ruled out, we can imagine everything, because Shkodran is a free agent in the summer,” Kujtim Mustafi is quoted told German media outlet Sport1.

It is believed, however, that Mustafi would prefer a move back to his homeland of Germany in order to be closer to his wife’s family, who live in Switzerland.

Despite enjoying an increased level of performance after lockdown last season, Mustafi was forced to undergo surgery for a knee issue in July, and since then he has fell down the pecking order under Arteta.

The Spaniard has, more often than not, selected two or three central defenders out of new signing Gabriel, Rob Holding, David Luiz, and Kieran Tierney.

In the 2020/21 Premier League season, he has featured just twice, with both appearaces coming off the bench.