Alexandre Lacazette returns to Lyon on a contract until 2025 after 5 years at Arsenal

Lacazette returns home

Alexandre Lacazette has returned to Lyon on a free transfer after leaving Arsenal where he has been for five years. The 31-year-old has rejoined his youth club on a free transfer. Lacazette arrived at the Emirates Stadium in 2017 and made 206 appearances in all competitions. He scored 71 goals finishing as Arsenal’s top scorer during the 2017-18 and 2020-21 seasons. Lacazette also made it into the club’s all-time top 10 Premier League scorers with 54 goals in 158 Premier League apps despite only scoring six goals throughout the 2021/22 campaign. He won the FA Cup during his time at the club and even captained them on some occasions under Mikel Arteta. 

There had been a lot of speculation around his future, but he has returned to Lyon where he is a hero. Lyon finished 8th in Ligue 1 and will not be playing European football next season. The club was inconsistent and uninspiring under Peter Bosz. The Dutchman will have to find a way to keep Lacazette and current number 9 Moussa Dembele happy. Lacazette is respected by Lyon after scoring 129 senior goals for the club.

What was said

An Olympique Lyonnais statement said: “Lacazette’s return to the club, having played more than 200 times for Arsenal over the course of five seasons [71 goals] has been the club’s priority for many months and he fits in perfectly with the environment and the new strategy that the institution wishes to put into place. His second arrival, after the return of Remy Riou and the extension to Maxence Caqueret and Anthony Lopes’ contracts shows the great ambition to breathe new life into a new dynamic around the men’s professional team.”

Lacazette told Arsenal’s website: “I want to keep all the good moments I had in the club, because for me it was just a pleasure to play for a club that, since I was young, I dreamt of. I’m really happy to have played for five years for Arsenal. There’s a board at the stadium with all the winners’ names on, and in my first season I told my dad that one day I would be on it. So I’m really proud I made it.”

How will Arsenal replace Lacazette

Arsenal will be in the market for a new striker following the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lacazette with Gabriel Jesus and Victor Osimhen major targets for the North London club.  They will also be happy to have tied prospect Eddie Nketiah to a new contract.