Auston Trusty has sent a message to Arsenal and the fans after completing his summer move to Sheffield United.
Auston Trusty completed a £5m transfer to Sheffield United earlier this week, joining the newly-promoted Premier League club on a permanent deal just a year and a half after signing for Arsenal.
Trusty had originally joined Arsenal in January 2022 for a fee of around £1.8m.
Despite never playing for the Gunners in a competitive fixture, Trusty’s signing can still be considered a success. The club made a quick profit on the 24-year-old and gave him a pathway into European football, which seemingly suited everyone.
That viewpoint is certainly shared by Trusty himself, who posted his thanks on social media once the transfer was confirmed.
“To Arsenal, thank you for taking a chance on me, opening doors, and giving me the opportunity to accomplish my dream of growing as a player and person in Europe,” Trusty wrote.
“Wearing the Arsenal shirt is an experience I’ll never forget and what a privilege it was to represent such a historic club. I will forever be grateful to the club and fans.”
Trusty had been linked with a transfer all summer, with Rangers among the clubs reportedly pursuing him. But the Scottish club had a bid turned down and didn’t return with another.
Ipswich Town were also one of a sizeable number of clubs keen on a move for Trusty, after his successful loan spell in the Championship with Birmingham City last season.
The defender won the Supporters’ Player of the Season award with Birmingham, and he was only a couple of appearances off hitting 50 games for the side.
Trusty joined Arsenal for the pre-season tour of the U.S., helping the Gunners to win the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge by hitting the crossbar from range.
But when it came to the actual matches, Trusty featured for just 10 minutes as a substitute against the All-Stars.
With Arsenal making the defensive addition of Jurrien Timber, and injured defenders like William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu returning to fitness, a move was always likely. Now it’s official.