Mesut Ozil has thanked Arsenal for an “amazing journey” after his departure to Fenerbahce was confirmed, saying he goes with no grudges despite not playing for nearly a year.
The 32-year-old, who said goodbye to his Arsenal team-mates before flying into Turkey last Sunday, has officially signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Fenerbahce and trained with his new team-mates on Sunday.
Ozil has received a £4.5m sign-on fee and will earn around £60,000 a week from the club – a pay cut from his £350,000-per-week deal at Arsenal – although his wages will be boosted by sponsors and endorsements.
Despite not playing for Arsenal since a 1-0 win over West Ham in March 2020 and being omitted from the club’s Premier League squad, Ozil took to social media to bid farewell to his former side and only had words of gratitude.
“I’d like to thank the club for this amazing journey over the past seven-and-a-half years,” he said on Twitter in a long heart-felt letter to Arsenal fans.
“The support I have felt from the team and fans during my time here has been truly incredible and something I will always be grateful for,” he added to the club’s official website.
“Together we won trophies for the first time in years and created memories that will last a lifetime. The Arsenal fans will forever remain in my heart.
“I’d like to thank Edu Gaspar for helping bring about a professional and dignified solution in the past few days, and I wish everyone at the club the best in their attempt to continue to bring Arsenal back to the top, where we belong.”
Writing on Instagram, Ozil was more emotional, saying: “I will always be grateful for the trust placed in me by Arsene Wenger in September 2013. I’ve grown up as an adult in North London, a place I’ll always call home. I’ll never forget that.
“It’s difficult for me to put into words the love I feel for this club and the fans. How could I possibly describe eight years of gratitude in a single letter? I will be a Gunner for life – no doubt about that.”
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