Bernd Leno Leaves Arsenal

German goalkeeper Bernd Leno has left Arsenal. It has been rumored for months that Leno would seek to leave the Gunners in search of a team that would guarantee him more playing time.

Since the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale at the Emirates, Leno saw how his playing time was reduced. This summer, with the signing of Matt Turner, it was clear that the competition for a place in the first team would be even more challenging.

Leno will join Fulham. The London side have reached an agreement with Arsenal to close the 30-year-old German goalkeeper acquisition. The cost of the operation is €9.5 million, according to information published by The Athletic.

Currently under contract until June 2023, the German international joined Arsenal in 2018 from Bayer Leverkusen for €25m. Since then, Leno has played a total of 125 official games with the Gunners.

During the 2020/21 season, the 30-year-old goalkeeper made 49 appearances, more than any other Arsenal player. During the campaign, Bernd kept 16 clean sheets in all competitions. But the figure of Ramsdale took center stage; the 24-year-old made 37 competitive appearances last season, keeping 14 clean sheets and even earning an England senior national team call-up.

It was initially reported that the Gunners were hoping to receive around €16m for Leno; in fact, a few weeks ago, he had turned down the first offer from Fulham because it was too low.

According to rumors, Leno himself had to intervene for the Gunners to accept the offer and let him leave the club.

Leno’s agent Joannis Koukoutrigas confirmed last month that Fulham was “trying hard” to conclude a deal. Koukoutrigas told German outlet BILD, “He is a German national goalkeeper; he has always performed well at Arsenal and is an absolute team player.

“Fulham is trying hard to get Bernd. Very professionally. This is also true for some other clubs and shows his status. But, as I said, for me, he is the No.1 at Arsenal, and we are therefore also relaxed.”