Game over for Arsenal star, with move to UCL side touted after Arteta severs ties

A rising Arsenal star’s future lays away from the Emirates, with two major sources confirming a permanent exit – potentially to a Champions League side – will take place this summer.

The Gunners have overseen significant change in the goalkeeping department over recent seasons. Indeed, former starter Bernd Leno spent a season on the bench before being sold to Fulham. Aaron Ramsdale quickly usurped the German following his arrival from Sheffield United.

Elsewhere, USA international Matt Turner was drafted in to serve as chief back-up. The 29-year-old racked up seven appearances in the cup competitions last season.

However, the upheaval between the sticks is set to continue, with Fabrizio Romano and Kaya Kaynak both reporting rising stopper Arthur Okonkwo is set to leave.

Okonkwo has been on Arsenal’s books since 2009, though is yet to make his senior debut. The 21-year-old thrived during two separate loan spells last season, earning rave reviews first at Crewe Alexandra and then Sturm Graz.

Okonkwo was recently left out of Arsenal’s group of for their pre-season tour of America. According to Kaynak, that’s because Okonkwo will be sold.

“Arthur Okonkwo is closer to a move, or closing in on a move so he isn’t involved [in Arsenal’s pre-season tour],” Kaynak said on his YouTube channel.

“He also wasn’t involved in the trip to Nuremberg, he’s edging closer to a move.”

Those comments have been backed up by Fabrizio Romano, with the transfer guru noting any exit is likely to be a permanent one.

Romano tweeted it’s been “agreed” that Okonkwo will leave Arsenal outright this window. The talented stopper is understood to be courting interest from English clubs as well as those on the continent.

Neither Kaynak or Romano zeroed in on any specific club Okonkwo could join. However, according to The Boot Room, a return to Sturm Graz is more than viable.

Okonkwo excelled while with the Austrian side in the second half of last season and helped the club lift the Austrian Cup on April 30. Okonkwo kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 victory over Rapid Vienna in the final.

A move to Sturm Graz could also come with the added incentive of Champions League football. They’ll enter the competition at the third qualifying round and will be hopeful of advancing to the group stage.

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