Borussia Dortmund confirm the transfer of Sokratis to Arsenal

At Dortmund today there is another sizable departure. The club announced that Sokratis has transferred to Arsenal. The Gunners, who finished sixth in the Premier League this year, will reportedly pay a transfer fee of about £16 million to BVB.

The announcement came quite a while after we were expecting it, but it is now finally official.

Sokratis’ exit comes after five years at Dortmund. He joined in 2013 from Werder Bremen and went on to have an accomplished career at the Westfalenstadion. He made 130 appearances at the club, scoring 7 goals in the process. His performances in his first season at Dortmund earned him a spot in the Bundesliga’s team of the year, and in 2016/17 he was a crucial part of the team that won the DFB Pokal.

£16 million is not a huge fee, but Sokratis will turn 30 this Friday. A change of scenery makes sense for both the player and the club. Dortmund want to get younger, and it’s true that this season wasn’t a strong one for the Greek international.

Surely Sokratis will look back pleasantly on his time at Dortmund, and we know the fans will show their appreciation for him should he ever feature against the Black and Yellows.