Alexandre Lacazette has returned to Lyon his former club on a free transfer.
French international joined Arsenal in 2017 under the then long-serving manager, Arsene Wenger for a record signing of £52.6m with add-ons – surpassing the £42.4m Arsenal paid Real Madrid for Mesut Ozil in 2013.
He rejoins his former club on a three-year deal until June 2025.
Lacazette aged 31, scored 54 times in 158 Premier League appearances for Arsenal and he has aided Arsenal to win the 2020 FA Cup final.
In April, this year, Lacazette told Canal Plus that he “never cut contact” with hometown club Lyon.
According to the BBC’s sports news, Lyon said they were “very proud and very happy” to go public on Lacazette’s rejoining the club.
Lacazette is said to have started his football career at his hometown club Lyon at the age of 12.
Lacazette was quoted by BBC sports news as saying that his return to Lyon was an “obvious” decision following his time in the Premier League – despite the French side’s failure to qualify for European football.
“Even without the European Cup, the club remains ambitious,” Lacazette said.
Gunner’s boss Mikel Arteta admitted in April that Arsenal took a risk in delaying talks with the player
Arsenal missed out on the Champions League slot again last, since 2016-17, but qualified for the Europa League group stage in 2022-23 after finishing fifth in the Premier League.
