Humiliation at Brighton drives Trossard to Arsenal for £27 million

Leandro Trossard completed a £27 million transfer from Brighton to Arsenal on 19 Sep 2026, ending a four‑year spell on the south coast after a complete breakdown with former manager Roberto De Zerbi. The Belgian winger quit the Seagulls and will miss a reunion against them on Saturday.

Breakdown with De Zerbi

According to De Zerbi, now Tottenham Hotspur manager, Trossard left a training session early without permission after learning he would not feature in Brighton’s FA Cup tie with Middlesbrough. The Italian said, “He left the session without saying anything to me. It’s not good. I spoke with him and explained this attitude and behaviour I don’t like.”

Trossard’s agent countered, claiming a calf issue forced the winger out of training and that an altercation with a teammate after the World Cup led De Zerbi to stop speaking to him. The statement added that the manager’s humiliation of Trossard in front of his teammates at the Amex Stadium was “obviously not conducive to the atmosphere, nor is it performance‑oriented”.

Arsenal’s motivation

Arsenal travelled to Brighton on Saturday, keen to secure the player who had previously started against Southampton and Arsenal but found himself on the bench against Everton and omitted from the five substitutions without explanation. Comments Sport Fasika Zelealem Senior Sports Reporter noted the club’s determination, describing the move as a “crucial step for OUR ARSENAL”.

View 3 Images captured the tense atmosphere as the transfer was finalised, highlighting the club’s belief that Trossard’s experience – 36 goals and 34 assists in 174 games for the Gunners – would bolster their attacking options.

Future implications

Having joined Arsenal in January 2023, Trossard contributed six goals to the Premier League title triumph last season before being sold for £17 million to Turkish giants Besiktas, confirming his summer exit from north London. His departure means he will miss the upcoming clash with the Seagulls, a match he described as a “reunion”.

De Zerbi, who left Brighton in May 2024, moved to Marseille a month later and departed the French side in February 2025 before returning to England with Tottenham in March, guiding them to Premier League safety on the final day of the 2025/26 season.