Two Arsenal players bid farewells; Romano reveals third departure
Two first-team Arsenal players have confirmed their exits from the club as free agents through heartfelt messages on social media, while transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has unveiled a third departure.
The Gunners, despite falling short of their first Premier League title since 2004, have made significant strides this season under Mikel Arteta.
With the summer transfer window looming, Arteta and sporting director Edu are set to have over £200 million to spend, factoring in funds from player sales and savings from free agent departures.
Cedric Soares’ Heartfelt Goodbye
Portuguese right-back Cedric Soares, 32, announced his departure from Arsenal on Monday via X.
In his emotional post, Cedric expressed his gratitude towards his teammates, the club’s staff, and the fans.
“What a team and what a club,” Cedric wrote.
“When I say a team, I mean exactly that, quality in every player, the professionalism that you show and the amazing human beings you guys are, so thank you!
“When I say club I mean all the departments, all the staff that is constantly putting all the hard hours on and off the pitch to make it possible to fight at the highest level.
“When I say club it also means its heart and with this I mean you guys, THE FANS, that made this journey so unreal and unforgettable.
“So to all the fans, I thank you! You will always have a special place in my heart!”
Cedric made just five appearances for Arsenal this season, with some of the Arsenal players like Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Jurrien Timber competing for the right-back position, leading to the decision not to offer him a new contract.
Mohamed Elneny Says Goodbye
Holding midfielder Mohamed Elneny also confirmed his departure last Friday in a video post on X.
“Gunners, I’m here today to send you a message and to say goodbye and to thank you for everything you’ve done for me and the love, support and the kindness.
“I’m really going to miss you so much and you’ll be in my heart forever. And I wanted to say how much I love you and how much you meant to me and I will never forget the way you supported me.”
Elneny’s exit marks the end of his time at the Emirates, where he has been a reliable presence in the squad.
Arthur Okonkwo’s Next Step
The third free agent departure revealed by Fabrizio Romano is 22-year-old goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo.
The young keeper excelled on loan at League Two side Wrexham, who achieved automatic promotion with a second-place finish.
Okonkwo’s performances earned him a spot in the League Two team of the season, fuelling speculation that he might sign a permanent deal with the Welsh club.
Okonkwo recently expressed his connection with Wrexham fans, saying, “You’re signing so many autographs and speaking to so many fans before every game.
At Arsenal, there’s a bit of a disconnect with the fans, in the sense you can’t sign everything. It is impossible. But that’s something Wrexham still has. It’s special to see.”
As Arsenal looks towards the future, these departures mark the end of an era for Cedric, Elneny, and Okonkwo.
With a substantial transfer budget and the goal of building on this season’s progress, the Gunners are poised for an exciting summer of reinforcements.
