Arsenal loan star returns to training after injury but confirms he wants to leave in summer transfer exit

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Arsenal currently have plenty of loanees plying their trade away from the club as they look to gain more first-team minutes.

The Gunners have a mixture of players featuring elsewhere, from the Hale End academy stars looking to forge their future to those who are looking to kick on after a lack of minutes at the Emirates Stadium.

Fabio Vieira has impressed at Porto, while Reiss Nelson is currently out injured for Fulham as he required surgery for an issue he recently picked up.

Joining them on loan is another Arsenal star, Albert Sambi Lokonga, who is currently with Spanish giants Sevilla.

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Albert Sambi Lokonga makes injury return for Sevilla

Albert Sambi Lokonga was signed by Arsenal in 2021 from Anderlecht, tipped as an impressive prospect for the future.

The 25-year-old made 39 appearances for the Gunners before it was deemed he couldn’t fit in the side on a regular basis.

A loan to Crystal Palace was made in 2023 before a following switch to Luton Town, where he managed to impress.

That then led to the move to Sevilla, where he has been a regular in the side before suffering a hamstring injury that has kept him out of action since early February.

Fortunately for the Belgian, he was spotted back in training this week as he looks to step up his return to action.

Sevilla are 11th in La Liga, three points off of a European place and with plenty of games left to hunt down a spot back in continental football.

While Lokonga will be looking to make the most of his remaining months with the Spanish side, he could also make a permanent move there in the summer.

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Albert Sambi Lokonga admits to wanting transfer switch

Lokonga’s loan to Sevilla includes an option to make the transfer permanent, which could be triggered in the summer.

While it’s unclear if that will happen, the midfielder certainly seems more than open to getting a deal done.

Speaking to Marca in early February, he said: “After my departure from Anderlecht, it’s a club [Sevilla] where I feel very good and I want to stay, but the decision is not only mine. It’s early. We’ll see when the year is over.”

It certainly suggests the midfielder is open to leaving Arsenal in the summer, which seems more and more likely with the incoming midfield rebuild.