German defender Shkodran Mustafi has turned down Arsenal’s offer of a contract extension in the summer and informed the club he plans to leave at the end of the season, football.london understands.
Mustafi whose contract expires next summer, enjoyed a renaissance under Gunners boss Mikel Arteta last season, starting 15 of Arsenal’s last 17 games under the Spaniard before suffering a knee injury which required corrective surgery in July.
The 28-year-old looked certain to leave under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery, with the former head coach admitting that it would have been “positive” for him and team-mate Mohamed Elneny to continue their careers elsewhere.
Arteta was last asked about Mustafi’s contract situation in July when he remained coy on whether the German would commit to the club he joined for £35million from Valencia four years ago
“That’s something the club has to address but he knows my opinion,” said Arteta.
“I’m really happy with him as you can see. The way he’s playing, how committed he is with everything we’re trying to do, the level in his performance ever three or four days, he’s been really consistent.”
Mustafi hired a new Germany-based agent in January last year, with his father working for the same sports management company, and is said to be keen on a move to Italy with his wife’s Albanian-Swiss family living in nearby Switzerland.
