Transfer Centre

Kieran Tierney 'still open to Arsenal exit'

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 21 August 2023

Kieran Tierney is reportedly still open to leaving Arsenal this summer, with the left-back searching for more first-team opportunities.

Kieran Tierney has reportedly revealed that he is still open to leaving Arsenal this summer.

The left-back has gradually fallen down the pecking order in recent years since arriving from Celtic in 2019.

Tierney only started two games for the Gunners in the run-in last season, the 2-2 draw with West Ham United and a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion.

The recent signings of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber and Jakub Kiwior has increased competition on the left-side of defence at the Emirates Stadium.

His game time has suffered as a result with most of his 27 Premier League appearances last season coming from the bench.

With Zinchenko's current absence, Timber was the preferred choice at left-back as he started last week's league opener against Nottingham Forest.

However, after the Dutchman suffered a serious knee injury in the first half, it may have opened the door for Tierney to come into the fold.

Arsenal's Jurrien Timber comes off injured on August 12, 2023 © Reuters

The Scotland international was not in the squad last week, so Tomiyasu replaced Timber who was forced off, and despite the injury to their new signing from Ajax, Tierney still looks set to leave.

Manager Mikel Arteta told the press in pre-season after a win over Barcelona that he was concerned with the current size of the squad.

Arteta said: "We have 30 players here which is unsustainable," before admitting that more things could happen before the closing of the transfer window.

Tierney's former club Celtic have been linked, as well as Newcastle United, but Fabrizio Romano claims that Real Sociedad looks like the most likely destination for the left-back.

Romano expects the player to leave this summer, with Tierney open to a new challenge, and wanting first-team minutes with Euro 2024 coming up next summer.

Arsenal are not interested in a loan deal, preferring instead to sell Tierney, and Real Sociedad are reportedly looking at a deal which will see him move on loan with an obligation to buy.

Tierney did not start any of Arsenal's five pre-season friendlies, or the Community Shield win over Manchester City, before missing out entirely against Forest last Saturday.