Mesut Ozil will join Fenerbahce on a free transfer after agreeing a seven-figure pay-off with Arsenal over the last six months of his contract.
Ozil rejected a lucrative move to MLS side DC United after being offered a three-and-a-half-year deal by the Turkish side, who he supported as a boy.
Ozil’s seven-and-a-half year Arsenal career is over
The 32-year-old has not featured for the Gunners since last March and manager Mikel Arteta left him out of his 25-man squad for the Premier League and the Europa League this season.
Ozil was due to collect more than £7million in wages before his £350,000-a-week deal expired in June – and it is understood the German wanted every penny.
Arsenal, desperate for a conclusion to the saga, finally agreed a pay-off so Ozil can leave as a free agent this month, rather than see out the remainder of his contract on the sidelines.
Ozil will now travel to Istanbul to finalise a deal with Turkish giants Fenerbahce this weekend.
More to follow…