Albert Sambi Lokonga has sent a farewell message to Arsenal following his friendly debut for new club Hamburg.
Albert Sambi Lokonga left Arsenal for Hamburg in a permanent transfer earlier this week, with various conflicting reports on how much the deal was worth. Most recently, Isaan Khan and Simon Jones reported for the Daily Mail that the fee was £2.6m (€3m).
In some ways, it was a disappointing end to the midfielder’s Arsenal career, with the player joining the club for around £17m amid high hopes for his long-term future in north London.
But after an injury-hit spell out on loan at Sevilla and with just one year left on his contract, the Gunners will just be pleased to have helped Lokonga to secure a fresh start in Germany.
Reflecting on his time with Arsenal on Instagram, Lokonga shared a heartfelt message with his now former club.
“Dear Gunners,” Lokonga began. “Can’t leave without saying thank you. Thank you to the ones giving me the opportunity to wear this badge and to represent the club, it’s been an honour to play for this amazing club!
“I remember signing at Arsenal in 2021 saying: ‘This club belong to the top!’ Even if I didn’t contribute as [much] as I wish I am leaving this club in a much better place.
“Thank you for the lessons, the love, the struggles, you made me a better player and a better man.
“To finish, special big thanks to all the people working behind the scenes, the people that you guys will maybe never mention or meet but these are the people that kept me going when [it] was hard.
“To the Arsenal Family! Big love.”
Lokonga has already played his first game for Hamburg, albeit not a competitive one. The midfielder came on in the 64th minute of a friendly match against Hannover on Thursday.
Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira also made his first Hamburg appearance in the same game, coming on in the same minute.
It wasn’t the ideal scenario for a debut, with Hamburg already 3-0 down. But Lokonga and Vieira will be pleased that the team were at least on top while they were on the pitch, as the game finished 3-1.
The Hamburg website praised a “huge improvement” from the team after Lokonga and Vieira came on, with the two almost combining for a goal from a corner but finding the side netting.