Arsenal raised eyebrows last summer as they loaned out popular left-back Kieran Tierney to La Liga side Real Sociedad.
Although he fell down the pecking order at Arsenal, Tierney was a useful backup and an alternative profile to Oleksandr Zinchenko, and with Jurrien Timber picking up a long-term injury on his Premier League debut, many fans thought that he should have been kept as an option.
However, Tierney was keen for a fresh start at Real Sociedad, and looked to get his form back on track. Injuries then derailed his progress again, and his future is unlikely to be in San Sebastian.
Tierney has now admitted that an Emirates return looks far from likely, given Arsenal’s increased competition at left-back, and claimed that he would be keen on another move abroad.
Kieran Tierney admits he is likely to leave Arsenal
Speaking in an interview with The Athletic, Tierney stated that whilst nothing can be ruled out, he is unlikely to line up under Arteta again.
“There is every chance,” he said. “Look at the squad depth in that position now. They have (Oleksandr) Zinchenko, (Jurrien) Timber, (Takehiro) Tomiyasu, (Jakub) Kiwior. Four players can play there. So if I go back and it’s the same as before then I’m not silly, I know the chances are I’ll be leaving,” he stated.
“But you never know in football. You get the rare case with (William) Saliba, where he came back after a couple of good seasons (out on loan) but you don’t see it too often with someone who has played for four years, left, and then come back to play again.
“Stranger things have happened. I could go back and there is a place for me. So I’m prepared for both.”
Where could Kieran Tierney move to in the summer transfer window?
Given his injury struggles, many clubs may not want to take a risk on Tierney at a high price, and Arsenal may have to cut their losses on the £25m signing.
Tierney has added that he would love to continue playing in La Liga, or try another European league.
“I could see myself playing in Spain or Italy. I love La Liga. It’s a great league and I’ve enjoyed this season a lot,” he explained.
“I don’t want to be jumping about to loads of different places, though. I want to get used to it and adapt to it, so I can kick on.”
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Tierney was once seen as a potential future captain at Arsenal, and is well-respected amongst the fanbase, but there is an acceptance that both his tactical fit and his injury issues will prevent him from succeeding at the club he joined in 2019.