Arsenal and Hamburg are working on a deal to send Sambi Lokonga to the newly-promoted Bundesliga side on a permanent move for a modest fee, per reports. The Belgian’s contract was set to expire this summer but Arsenal activated their club-option one-year extension with an eye to selling the midfielder. Lokonga joined the Gunners in 2021 from Anderlecht for £17M but struggled to claim a place in the first team location.
Lokonga has spent the last two and a half years on loan, first Crystal Palace,
then Luton Town, and last season at Sevilla. Unfortunately, he’s struggled with hamstring issues, keeping him from establishing a rhythm. When fit, he’s a good ball-progressor, both dribbling and passing. He’s probably a little too loose with the ball for Mikel Arteta’s taste, and he doesn’t do enough defensively.
If he can stay healthy, he’ll improve a Hamburg side that lacks for technical quality, particularly in midfield. Die Rothosen have several 6’s but lack a true, ball-playing 8 — Lokonga can fill that gap. He’s not a “young” player anymore, but at 25, he still has plenty of career ahead of him, especially if he can get things back on track in the Bundesliga after treading water while on Arsenal’s books.
