Arsenal’s Johan Djourou has tonight confirmed that he is set to move to Bundesliga side Hannover on a six month loan deal until the end of the season and, surprisingly, there is no option to buy included in the deal with the player expected to return to Arsenal when the deal expires and see out the rest of his contract [which runs until 2015]. Of course, things could change between now and then, but for now, it is simply a loan deal.
About the move, Djourou said
I joined the club who wanted me the most. At my age, the priority is to play regularly.
To do this, I did not hesitate to refuse offers with the most exclusive clubs who made important financial efforts.
Djourou has been at Arsenal since 2003 and is the club’s longest serving player.
He is expected to join up with his new teammates at their training camp in Portugal this Saturday.
It is absolutely brilliant to see a player deciding on a club based on footballing reasons rather than vanity of money and we wish him all the best.
Thanks to @Houmi88 for the find.
