Arsenal have sold defender Laurent Koscielny to Ligue 1 side Bordeaux for a fee of up to 5m euros (£4.6m).
The 33-year-old centre-back had a medical on Tuesday and has returned to France after nine years with the Premier League club.
Frenchman Koscielny had a year left on his contract at Emirates Stadium and the Gunners wanted him to stay.
Les supporters : “ANNONCE @6_LKOSCIELNY” !!!
Le CM : 👍
Bienvenue Laurent 😁 pic.twitter.com/3op22QAzu1
— FC Girondins de Bordeaux (@girondins) August 6, 2019
But he asked for a free transfer and refused to travel on a pre-season tourof the United States.
“We decided to sanction his move to Bordeaux once we agreed acceptable transfer terms,” Arsenal said in a statement.
“We thank Laurent for his contribution to the club and wish him all the best for the future.”
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Former France international Koscielny rejected a new Gunners contract that he felt undervalued his contribution and continued ability.
Arsenal began disciplinary proceedings and instructed the captain to train with the under-23s, but offered him a way back into the first-team squad for the new season.
However, Koscielny had no intention of reversing his decision and was determined to secure a move to his home country.
Talks also took place with Bordeaux’s Ligue 1 rivals Rennes.
Arsenal hope to sign a new centre-back before the Premier League’s transfer deadline at 17:00 BST on Thursday, while they retain an interest in Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney despite the 22-year-old Scotland international being injured.
The Gunners are also in advanced talks over the sale of English right-back Carl Jenkinson, 27, to Championship side Nottingham Forest.
The club also expect 20-year-old strikerEddie Nketiahto leave the club on a season-long loan, with Bristol City among a number of sides – including overseas teams – in talks to sign the England Under-21 international.
However, Arsenal have received no firm offers for defender Shkodran Mustafiand attempts to move the 27-year-old German on are further complicated by his desire to stay.
But foreign clubs have longer to negotiate a deal, depending on when their transfer windows close.
