Arsenal have finally announced the departure of Lukas Podolski on loan for the rest of the season.

The German, who flew to Italy on Friday night, completed his medical on Saturday morning and trained with his new club on Saturday afternoon, will remain at the Serie A side until the summer when his future will then be decided.

Although it had been originally claimed that the loan deal contained an option to buy, this was refuted by a well-respected Italian journalist.

Arriving at Arsenal in 2012, Podolski found the net 31 times in 82 games, most of them threatening to burst the goal. The youngest ever European to reach 100 caps for his country, Podolski picked up the World Cup in the summer just shortly after lifting the FA Cup with Arsenal.

It will come as no surprise to anyone that the announcement on Arsenal.com reads that a player who will not be returning to north London.