Arsenal denied millions in transfer windfall after deadline day deal

31 August 2023 , 19:59

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Matteo Guendouzi has joined Lazio (Image: Getty Images)

Matteo Guendouzi has left Marseille for Lazio - but Arsenal will not receive anything from the last-minute summer transfer.

The Gunners included a 15 per cent sell-on clause when they sold Guendouzi, 24, to Marseille a year ago. The Frenchman is now heading to the Italian capital... but only on loan. That means Arsenal will miss out on a multi-million-pound payment for the time being.

Yet Mikel Arteta's side still could pocket a sell-on clause in a year's time, as Lazio have the option to make Guendouzi's move permanent. This option will become an obligation if certain "sporting conditions" are met during his loan spell.

Guendouzi made 82 appearances for Arsenal during his four years at the Emirates, spending the final two seasons of his spell out on loan at Hertha Berlin and Marseille. He's admitted to not having the best relationship with Gunners boss Arteta.

Lazio and Marseille confirmed the news of Guendouzi's transfer on Thursday. "Good luck Matteo Guendouzi," tweeted Marseille. "Our French international midfielder has moved to Lazio on loan with an option to make the deal permanent at the end."

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Lazio also confirmed the transfer with a short statement on their website. They have described it as a "temporary transfer of the contract with the obligation of transformation into a permanent transfer upon the occurrence of particular sporting conditions".

Guendouzi started his career at French side Lorient before Unai Emery signed him for Arsenal in 2018. He played often throughout Emery's time in charge of the Gunners but found it harder to get into the team after Arteta was appointed in December 2019.

Guendouzi's relationship with Mikel Arteta was strained (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

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The midfielder was axed by Arteta after a post-match altercation with Brighton forward Neal Maupay in June 2020. The Arsenal star was loaned out to German side Hertha later that year and made 24 Bundesliga appearances before returning to the Emirates.

Guendouzi has since opened up on his relationship with Arteta. "It’s true that I didn’t have the best relationship with him," he said last year. "Beyond that, I always tried to work, always gave the maximum of myself in training and in matches.

"He preferred other players and I respect that decision. That’s why, afterwards, I also decided to leave because I was still young, I needed playing time to continue to progress. The most important when you’re young is to play."

Guendouzi has rebuilt his career since joining Marseille, initially on loan, in July 2021. He's played 99 games for the French side and become a full international, earning seven caps. He was part of the squad that lost to Argentina in last year's World Cup final.

Tom Blow