Arsenal have always been terrible sellers.
The Gunners’ record sale is still Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool all the way back in the summer of 2017. He was allowed to leave for £35 million.
Andrea Berta was tasked with improving Arsenal’s sales in the summer, and although it’s still early days, one of his decisions – to sell Albert Sambi Lokonga for a bargain fee – is looking increasingly questionable every day.
Has there been a worse sale in Arsenal’s recent history than Albert Sambi Lokonga’s £260k exit?
Albert Sambi Lokonga has been earning praise since his Arsenal exit
Arsenal signed Lokonga for £17 million from Anderlecht in the summer of 2021.
The Belgian international was viewed as the next big thing in midfield, and his early performances in the famous red and white were excellent.
However, Lokonga’s form plummeted following the turn of 2022, and he lost his place in the side. He was sent out on loan to Crystal Palace, Luton Town and Sevilla before being sold in the summer this year for just £260,000.
That figure is extremely low. Lokonga is not good enough to play for Arsenal, but he is a very good midfielder who can do a job for most mid-tier teams in Europe’s top leagues.
That is why the fee baffled fans in the summer, and after seeing how he has started his career in Germany, Berta must be kicking himself.
In 10 appearances for Hamburg so far, Lokonga has scored three goals, which is more than what he managed at Arsenal and in his loan spells at Palace, Luton and Sevilla combined.
German outlet Kicker have claimed that the Lokonga deal is ‘exceptional’ value for money, and Hamburg are delighted with him.
The Bundesliga side’s doctors and coaching staff have formulated a plan for the midfielder, and that has allowed him to stay fit all season so far, which is something that hasn’t happened since 2022.
Thanks to that, they are reaping the rewards.
How much do you think Albert Sambi Lokonga is worth today after Arsenal sold him for just £260k?
If you were Andrea Berta, how much would you have sold him for?
Hamburg manager’s comments highlight Arsenal’s mistake with Lokonga
Hamburg boss Merlin Polzin is beyond impressed with Lokonga.
“He always manages to find spaces and play in them,” says his manager. “Sambi manages to read a game and feel it, to set the rhythm.
“He leads the way as a leader and continues to do so off the pitch. That is worthy of all honours. He is extremely important to the ongoing process within our team.”
This shows that Arsenal and Andrea Berta made a big mistake with Lokonga – not because they should’ve kept him, but for letting him go for as little as £260,000.
Lokonga is worth a lot more than that figure, and his recent performances show exactly that. Arsenal have missed out on a decent amount of money because of their decision.
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