Hector Bellerin is no longer an Arsenal player after the club agreed to a free transfer, allowing him to sign for Barcelona for nothing.

Real Betis' Spanish defender Hector Bellerin reacts while sitting on the pitch at the end of the Spanish league football match between Real Betis and Granada FC at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Seville, on May 15, 2022. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Betis’ Spanish defender Hector Bellerin reacts while sitting on the pitch at the end of the Spanish league football match between Real Betis and Granada FC at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Seville, on May 15, 2022. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP via Getty Images)

Hector Bellerin’s time as an Arsenal player is over but, as the club were not been able to find a buyer for the 27-year-old, they have agreed a free transfer, allowing Barcelona to sign yet another Arsenal player for nothing.

https://twitter.com/LaLiga/status/1565459667903455235

It was initially reported as a contract cancellation by James Olley, but David Ornstein has confirmed it is a free transfer.

Sky Sports News then reported that Arsenal have a ‘substantial sell-on clause’ in the deal, learning their lesson after Aubameyang was sold to Chelsea for €14m just six months after Arsenal let him also leave for free for Barcelona.

Not that it matters.

Bellerin is only signing a one-year deal, on vastly reduced wages, with Barcelona then he will no doubt move on to Real Betis for free which is the club he really wants to play for.

I wondered why Bellerin didn’t sign for Real Betis now, if Arsenal were waving the fee. After all, that is the club he wants to play for but who can’t afford to pay a fee for him. It seems that Betis would not have been able to afford to register Bellerin’s wages this season.

It is a disappointing end to his time at Arsenal for a player who was a firm fan favourite.

Bellerin’s contract expired next season so, in effect, if we’d sent him on loan this season, we would have been letting him leave for free, anyway.

Still, it sticks in the throat that is Barcelona once again who will benefit.

Bellerin, of course, joined Arsenal from Barcelona in 2011 along with Jon Toral, who currently plays for OFI Crete FC after congenital knee problems scuppered his career at the very highest level.

His former teammate had no such problems.

Bellerin played for Arsenal 239 times, scoring nine, assisting 29 and was loved by all fans. He also won three FA Cups and three Community Shields.

Last season, he won the Spanish Cup with Real Betis while on loan.

We wish him all the best. What a man.