Galatasaray sign Lukas Podolski from Arsenal
Arsenal's Lukas Podolski celebrates after scoring against Galatasaray during their UEFA Champions League group D match at TT Arena Stadium on December 9, 2014 in Istanbul. PHOTO | OZAN KOSE | AFP
What you need to know:
- The 30-year-old German international has signed a three-year contract with the Istanbul giants, who said they will pay a transfer fee of 2.5 million euros (£1.8m, $2.8m).
ISTANBUL
Lukas Podolski has left Arsenal to sign for Galatasaray, the Turkish champions announced on Saturday.
The 30-year-old German international has signed a three-year contract with the Istanbul giants, who said they will pay a transfer fee of 2.5 million euros (£1.8m, $2.8m).
Podolski, whose deal includes an option for a fourth season, posted a picture of himself on his Twitter account holding a Galatasaray scarf after arriving at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport.
The move brings to an end a disappointing three-year association with Arsenal, where he never really established himself in Arsene Wenger's side.
The former Cologne and Bayern Munich forward even spent the second half of last season on loan in Italy with Inter Milan.
Galatasaray will appear in the group stage of next season's Champions League after winning a record 20th Turkish title by a margin of three points from Fenerbahce, their bitter city rivals who hail from the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
