One Arsenal flop is set to become a free agent this summer, and he might struggle to find a new club.
With the Club World Cup kicking off on June 14th, the 2025 summer transfer window has opened for a registration period.
On the 9th, the window will close to accommodate the tournament before the market opens for the remainder of the summer.
It’s a decisive time for Arsenal, who have a lot to resolve in the market before the 2025/26 season as pressure builds on Mikel Arteta.
Atletico Mineiro protest against signing Willian
Arteta and Edu Gaspar got the transfer window entirely wrong over the 2024/25 calendar, welcoming just one attacker in the form of Raheem Sterling.
Sterling’s loan was a disaster, and Arsenal remain in the situation they were in a year ago, emphasising the failure of the 30-year-old’s loan from Chelsea.
Some believe that Sterling was one of Arteta’s worst transfers at Arsenal, which is fair, but it could be argued that another former Chelsea star deserves the unwanted top spot.
In 2020, Arsenal signed Willian from their London rivals in a transfer that was as surprising as it was underwhelming.
The Brazilian joined the Gunners way beyond his expiration date, leaving the Emirates a year later to return to South America with Corinthians.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 37 | 1 | 7 |
Willian was asked to stay at Arsenal for another year, but instead moved on, which hindsight proved to be the correct decision.
After returning to England to sign for Fulham over two stints, Willian’s contract at Craven Cottage will expire in the coming weeks, but his next step is unclear.
It’s unclear what clubs want to sign the 36-year-old, however, it’s evident what club certainly doesn’t want to take the two-time Premier League winner on.
Brazilian outlet BolaVIP covered Atletico Mineiro’s interest in Willian, including the opinion of fans of the club, who made it known that they don’t want to see the veteran sign.
BolaVIP covered comments from one particularly unimpressed Atletico Mineiro supporter, who dubbed the former Arsenal man ‘weak’ and ‘terrible’.
The Brazilian publication doubled down on fan concerns by saying that Willian’s ‘passage in Brazil’ has been ‘erased’ following his bitterly disappointing stint at Corinthians.
What did Willian do after leaving Arsenal?
Those in Brazil don’t rate Willian as the player he is now, which is the same opinion that many have in North London.
Some would credit the former Chelsea star with a spot in Arsenal’s worst XI of all time, which is saying something.
After leaving N5 with 37 appearances and one goal to his name, Willian returned to Brazil with Corinthians, where he struggled just as much.
Remarkably, the winger earned another shot in the Premier League with Fulham, where his form miraculously turned around.
The playmaker, who is almost 37, might not have as much luck this time around, as his future remains very much up in the air.
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