Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has revealed his intentions to leave at the expiration of his current contract.
The France international is tied to the club until 2020 but has this week admitted he will not be signing a new deal.
At 32 Koscielny is one of the most experienced stars in the Gunners dressing room, but will move on to pastures new and embrace a new challenge.
Speaking to French publication Nice-Matin, Koscielny said:
‘I’m under contract until June 2020. Afterwards? I’m thinking of moving on, but I do not know where.’
Quick to avoid making a saga of the situation however, the defender acted to quell any immediate speculation of what the future may have in store.
‘This is not relevant anyway. I am in England, my family too. Then there will inevitably be a lot of question marks.
‘The bottom line is to have health. I learned to revitalise because there are so many more serious things in life.’
Koscielny is still sidelined with an achilles injury, which is set to see him miss out for the remainder of the year.
The 32-year-old also missed the World Cup, in which his nation emerged victorious in Russia and lifted the famous trophy for only the second time in their history.
In Koscielny’s prolonged absence the Gunners have signed Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund.
The Greek defender has partnered Shkodran Mustafi during pre-season, and the duo are expected to start the campaign as first-choice pairing under new boss Unai Emery.
