26yo former Arsenal target leaves Juventus

Serbian striker Dušan Vlahović, once a target for Arsenal, has left Juventus after a four-and-a-half-year stint at the club. Vlahović, now 26, has completed a free transfer to Turkish side Beşiktaş, ending years of speculation surrounding his potential move to north London. During his time at Juventus, the Serbia international scored 68 goals and provided 16 assists in 168 games.

The move reunites Vlahović with former Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard, who also joined Beşiktaş this summer. Arsenal's pursuit of Vlahović peaked in January 2022, when he was starring for Fiorentina and nearing the end of his contract. However, the financial package required to sign the prolific striker proved too expensive for the Gunners.

Vlahović had previously been linked with several other clubs, including Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Arsenal, but no formal bids were submitted. Beşiktaş offered Vlahović a three-year contract worth around €7.5 million per season, benefiting from the absence of a transfer fee. Manager Vincenzo Italiano, who previously coached Vlahović at Fiorentina, reportedly played a significant role in securing the reunion.