Arsenal Sign Belgium Winger Leandro Trossard from Brighton

Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group F - Croatia v Belgium - Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - December 1, 2022 Belgium's Leandro Trossard in action. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group F - Croatia v Belgium - Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - December 1, 2022 Belgium's Leandro Trossard in action. (Reuters)
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Arsenal Sign Belgium Winger Leandro Trossard from Brighton

Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group F - Croatia v Belgium - Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - December 1, 2022 Belgium's Leandro Trossard in action. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group F - Croatia v Belgium - Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - December 1, 2022 Belgium's Leandro Trossard in action. (Reuters)

Premier League leader Arsenal completed the signing of Brighton forward Leandro Trossard on Friday, one week after missing out on long-time transfer target Mykhailo Mudryk. 

Arsenal said in a statement it signed the 28-year-old Belgium winger to a “long-term contract” without specifying how many years. The value of the deal was not disclosed. 

Trossard adds to Arsenal's attacking option in the absence of Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus, who injured a knee at the World Cup, and joins after the Gunners were unable to lure the 22-year-old Mudryk. Shakhtar Donetsk instead accepted a 100-million-euro ($108 million) offer from Chelsea. 

Trossard also was at the World Cup and has made 24 appearances for Belgium. 

“He is a versatile player with high technical ability, intelligence and a great deal of experience in the Premier League and at international level,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. 

Arsenal said it hoped the transfer documents for Trossard, who was in his fourth season at Brighton, will be completed in time for the player to be available for the game against Manchester United at home on Sunday. 

Arsenal is five points clear of defending champion Manchester City, having played one game fewer, and chasing a first league title since 2004. 



Cancelo Ruled Out of Al-Hilal’s Asian Champions League Semi with Al-Ahli 

Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 
Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 
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Cancelo Ruled Out of Al-Hilal’s Asian Champions League Semi with Al-Ahli 

Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 
Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 

Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus has ruled Joao Cancelo out of the remainder of his side's Asian Champions League Elite campaign with a hamstring injury ahead of their all-Saudi Pro League semi-final against Al-Ahli in Jeddah on Tuesday.

The former Manchester City and Barcelona defender limped off 42 minutes into Al-Hilal's 7-0 thrashing of South Korea's Gwangju on Friday and Jesus confirmed the 30-year-old would play no further part in the continental championship.

"The only negative part of an excellent night was the injury to Joao Cancelo," said Jesus. "He's one of the players who is very important for the team for his attacking ability.

"We will not have him. He will be out for four to six weeks, that means his season is practically over, but he will be well prepared for our participation in the Club World Cup."

Al-Hilal remain on track for a record-extending fifth Asian title but face a difficult challenge against an Al-Ahli side that is the only undefeated team left in the competition.

The clubs have already met three times this season in domestic competition, with Al-Ahli winning the most recent encounter in the Saudi Pro League thanks to a hat-trick by England striker Ivan Toney.

That win was coach Matthias Jaissle's first against Al-Hilal in five attempts and the German is confident his side can repeat the feat.

"It helps definitely to know, to feel that we are capable to win against Al-Hilal," said Jaissle.

"We've played against Al-Hilal so often and they have huge quality in their squad, but we're well prepared. We know exactly what will come tomorrow, there will be no surprises on the pitch. Details will be decisive."

The semi-final will be played at Al-Ahli's home at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Jaissle is hoping the support of the local fans will be a factor in deciding the outcome.

"The results in the matches since the competition started show clearly that this competition fits us," he said. "But we didn't achieve anything so far.

"Everything has to fit together, all the details in all phases of the game. Then you need sometimes a bit of luck and the extra energy of the fans."