African footballers. UK-born Ghanaian defender Jordi Osei-Tutu leaves Arsenal for good moving to German club Bochum. The 23 year old signed a three-year contract with the Bundesliga side VFL Bochum club until 2025.
The left-back was eager to rejoin Bochum after having played his best football, to date, with the club during the previous season 2019/20, when they played in the second division of German football. He made 21 league appearances and went forward to score five more times.
The Ghanaian star posted a picture of himself shaking hands with Brochum team management as he officiated his move to the new team. The caption read;
I am privileged to be able to say I wore the Arsenal Shirt. The last 7 years have been a priceless experience. I will forever be grateful for all the experience and insight gained from the various managers and coaches I have worked under. And I would also like to thank the Arsenal fans who have always been supportive. Thank you @arsenal you will always be in my heart.
Jordi Osei-Tutu also added that he was excited to move back to the team that he feel in love with on loan @vflbochum1848.official. He added that since leaving he had alwayd dreamt of returning. ” I am ready to work hard and fight for this wonderful club. I can’t wait to see all the fans again at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion 🔵⚪️ #Erfreut” He wrote.
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Current Bochum head coach, Thomas Reis, described Osei-Tutu as a “great” young man with a lot of talent during his loan spell.
The young defender showed promise in his performances in Arsenals youth team, with expectations of making his way up to Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad had it not been for fitness issues.
Injury has hindered his progress and saw him on the sidelines for most of last season, spending half the campaign on loan to Nottingham Forest making four appearances in the EFL Championship. In the 23 games the team played that period, Osei-Tutu missed 19 due to a hamstring problem before suffering an ankle issue in late December.
Osei-Tutu has a contract until 2023, which could allow Arsenal to seek compensation. Bochum could be expected to pay a minimal fee, although the financial details are under wraps.
By Beheram Karim