Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny is set to return to France, after the club agreed to sell him to Bordeaux for a fee that could rise to €5-million.
The three-time FA Cup winning defender played 353 times for the Gunners in his nine years in North London.
33-year-old Koscielny went on strike earlier this summer, refusing to go on their pre-season tour, when Arsenal refused to allow him to leave the club on a free transfer.
At the time the Gunners expressed their disappointment at Koscielny's actions and made it clear he wouldn't be allowed to move for free.
Arsenal say Bordeaux have now made an 'acceptable' offer for the experienced French international defender and have wished the player well in his move to Ligue 1.
It leaves Unai Emery's side with just two days to find a replacement ahead of the season, with Juventus' Daniele Rugani and Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano both being linked.
Prior to his departure, Emery said they had done everything to try and keep Koscielny at the Emirates.
“I fight to convince him, but I respect his decision, a very personal decision, and that situation can only manage with one argument.
" But at the moment his decision is to leave and we are also thinking if we can improve with other players and how we can help with him."
Les supporters : "ANNONCE @6_LKOSCIELNY" !!!
Le CM : 👍
Bienvenue Laurent 😁 pic.twitter.com/3op22QAzu1
— FC Girondins de Bordeaux (@girondins) August 6, 2019
