Wilshere confirms he's leaving Arsenal in search of more playing time
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere confirmed Tuesday he will leave his boyhood club once his contract expires at the end of June.
In a statement posted to his Instagram account, Wilshere says he had "little choice" but to leave following a recent meeting with new Gunners boss Unai Emery.
"I am sure everyone can understand that at this point in my life and career I need to be playing regular first team football and following my meeting with Mr Emery I came away feeling that it would be very difficult for me to do so at Arsenal," Wilshere wrote.
Aside from two loan spells at Bolton Wanderers and Bournemouth during the 2010-11 and 2016-17 campaigns, respectively, Wilshere has played every season of his senior career with the Gunners. He played in a total of 197 games for Arsenal, scoring 14 goals, and helped the club win back-to-back FA Cups in 2014 and 2015.
The 26-year-old has struggled to hold down a spot in the starting XI in recent years due to a growing list of injuries. His stint at Bournemouth was cut short with five games remaining after suffering a hairline fracture in a match against Tottenham Hotspur - the second such injury to his left leg in two years.
He also missed three months in 2014-15 after undergoing surgery to repair torn left ankle ligaments.
Wilshere joined Arsenal in 2001 at age 9 and was a heralded product of its youth academy. He made his Premier League debut as a 16-year-old on Sept. 13, 2008, replacing Robin van Persie late in a 4-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers.
He supplemented the announcement with a video showcasing some of his notable Arsenal memories.
Crystal Palace is reportedly interested in signing the longtime Gunners midfielder.