Player who transformed Arsenal is still without a club after a nightmare 12 months

Oleksandr Zinchenko helped transform how Arsenal played when he arrived in 2022.

The Ukrainian joined from Manchester City for £30million and gave Mikel Arteta an entirely new dimension in build-up play.

He could invert from left-back into midfield, creating an extra passing lane and helping stretch opposition defences.

Alongside Gabriel Jesus, he was one of the signings of that summer.

Now, three years later, he is without a club.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is still a free agent

Zinchenko’s fall has been steep and, at times, cruel. He gradually slipped down Arteta’s pecking order as Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly all emerged as better options.

Looking for regular minutes, he joined Nottingham Forest on loan in September 2025, but struggled for consistency under Sean Dyche. He made just four Premier League starts before the loan was cut short in January.

Arsenal sanctioned a permanent move to Ajax for around €1.5million, a fraction of what they paid for him, giving the 29-year-old a chance to reset. It lasted barely two games.

Just 25 minutes into his first full home game for Ajax against Fortuna Sittard, Zinchenko suffered a severe ACL tear.

The injury ruled him out for the rest of the season, cost him his place in Ukraine’s World Cup squad for their decisive play-off against Sweden, which they ended up losing.

When his short-term Ajax contract expired on June 30, the Dutch club chose not to renew it.

Even after the summer transfer window, the four-time Premier League champion is still without a club, working through post-surgery rehabilitation.

Football can be brutal. Zinchenko’s last 12 months are proof of that. Hopefully he can find his feet soon and we can see him at the top level again.