Arsenal swoop for Trossard after winger's fallout with Brighton

Arsenal added Leandro Trossard to their attacking contingent Friday after striking a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion worth around £27 million.

The Belgian winger signed a long-term contract to join the Premier League pacesetters. The terms expire in 2026, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

Trossard, 28, was one of Brighton's standout players prior to the World Cup, scoring seven goals and assisting twice over 14 Premier League outings. But since he appeared in two more top-flight matches at the end of December, details of his fractured relationship with Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi started to surface.

De Zerbi told media last week that Trossard had left training early without permission after hearing he wouldn't feature in an FA Cup meeting with Middlesbrough. Trossard's agent, Josy Comhair, quickly shot back, accusing De Zerbi of ignoring Trossard following a minor altercation between the player and a Brighton teammate and also humiliating his client "in a group."

Trossard's departure suddenly seemed inevitable - and Brighton's loss is Arsenal's gain.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have been Mikel Arteta's regular picks on either side of his three-man frontline while Emile Smith Rowe, who can provide width or play through the middle, and Reiss Nelson have dealt with injury issues. Fabio Vieira, who joined from FC Porto last summer, is yet to establish himself in the first team.

Trossard should provide stronger competition in the wide roles and is especially strong on the left - which is Martinelli's position - where he can cut inside and pick holes between the center-back and right-back. Overall, he has 25 goals and 13 assists over 116 Premier League appearances.