Out-of-contract Arsenal youngster shares farewell message

Seb Ferdinand was included on Arsenal’s list of released players earlier this summer, bringing to an end a seven-year association with the Gunners.

Ferdinand was on a professional contract with the club, signed in 2024, but he’s now a free agent.

A couple of months after Arsenal’s announcement, Ferdinand has shared his feelings on the decision, admitting it’s taken him a while to come to terms with.

“As many of you may know, this summer my time at Arsenal has come to an end,” Ferdinand wrote on Instagram. “It has taken me a while to process this as I look to navigate this next part of my career.

“Over the past seven years Arsenal has been my second home and going from a boy to a man at Hale End and then at Colney. I would like to thank all the staff and people at the club. Met many great people and created lifelong bonds and memories.

“To everyone who has supported me at this club I would like to thank you and I hope you continue to as I take the next steps in my career. Who knows what the future holds, but for now this is a goodbye.”

It’s obviously difficult for players who have represented one club’s academy for so long to accept that they won’t eventually be first-team players for that same team.

Progression to the senior side is generally seen as the ultimate goal for academy players at the big clubs, especially for someone like Ferdinand with 46 u19 and u21 appearances for Arsenal under his belt.

Ferdinand had his moments over the last few years. His EFL Trophy debut was very impressive, with two goals and an assist against senior opposition in Exeter City.

The winger also started the 2025/26 campaign excellently, with two goals and an assist in his first four games.

But a struggle to maintain that kind of form consistently meant a departure became inevitable, and Ferdinand will now be looking to make a fresh start elsewhere.