Leandro Trossard reportedly turned down the opportunity to join Tottenham Hotspur before completing his move to Arsenal in January 2023.
The Belgian international has gone on to become a key figure at the Emirates, helping the Gunners win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final, but his path to north London could easily have taken a different direction.
Fresh details from Belgium have now revealed how Tottenham's interest was bypassed and how transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano unexpectedly played a role in helping secure the move.
Fallout with Roberto De Zerbi sparked exit
Trossard's departure from Brighton & Hove Albion followed a difficult period under Roberto De Zerbi.
According to Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg, tensions developed between the pair after the winger returned from the 2022 World Cup.
The situation reportedly deteriorated to the point where Trossard was training separately from the rest of the squad, making a January exit increasingly likely.
At the time, his representatives began exploring options across Europe as the player sought a fresh start away from the Amex Stadium.
Tottenham made approach
Among the clubs interested were Tottenham.
The report references an offer from Spurs during the winter transfer window, backing up previous comments from Trossard's mother that the north London club wanted to sign him before his eventual move to Arsenal.
However, the Belgian had other ideas.
Arsenal entered the market after missing out on Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who instead completed a move to Chelsea.
That opened the door for the Gunners to pursue Trossard, and the player ultimately chose Mikel Arteta's project over a switch across north London to Tottenham.
Fabrizio Romano helped make contact
One of the more surprising details surrounding the transfer involves transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
At the time, Trossard was represented by agent Josy Comhair, who has now explained how Romano helped establish contact with Arsenal.
“I didn’t have the number of Arsenal’s sporting director. So, I asked Fabrizio Romano, the transfer guru. He gave it to me, on the condition that he could know everything.” — Josy Comhair
Comhair revealed Arsenal quickly responded after the initial contact was made.
“When Arsenal called a little later, I was sitting on a paint can thinking.” — Josy Comhair
The story offers a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes reality of modern transfers and how relationships within football can influence major deals.
Arsenal move proved perfect decision
Looking back, Trossard’s choice appears fully justified.
The Belgian has become one of Arsenal’s most reliable attacking players and has consistently contributed goals, assists and versatility across the forward line.
His ability to play in multiple positions has made him a valuable asset for Arteta during one of the most successful periods in the club’s recent history.
| Leandro Trossard at Arsenal | Record |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 173 |
| Goals | 36 |
| Assists | 33 |
| Contract Expiry | 2027 |
| Transfermarkt Value | €20m |
Source: club statistics, updated 31 May 2026
Former agent steps away
The report also reveals that Comhair no longer represents the Arsenal star.
The split is described as being for personal reasons, with the former agent now spending much of his time with family in Thailand.
Despite that change, he remains closely associated with one of the most significant transfers of Trossard's career.
Key Points
- Leandro Trossard rejected Tottenham before joining Arsenal.
- The Belgian left Brighton after a fallout with Roberto De Zerbi.
- Arsenal moved for him after missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk.
- Fabrizio Romano helped facilitate initial contact with Arsenal.
- Trossard has registered 36 goals and 33 assists for the Gunners.
- His contract runs until 2027.
What's next?
Trossard's immediate focus remains on helping Arsenal achieve further success as he enters another important stage of his career.
For Tottenham supporters, however, the story serves as a reminder of a transfer that might have looked very different had events unfolded another way. Instead, the Belgian chose Arsenal and has since become an important part of one of the club's most successful modern squads.
Did Leandro Trossard make the right decision choosing Arsenal over Tottenham, or would he have been just as successful at Spurs?
0 Comments
First read message
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *