Oleksandr Zinchenko is set to complete a permanent transfer to Ajax, having completed a special gesture to his Arsenal and Nottingham Forest team-mates.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has bid farewell to his Arsenal and Nottingham Forest colleagues as he prepares to join Ajax. The 29-year-old completed a deadline day loan move to Forest from the Gunners – but has scarcely appeared since Sean Dyche’s appointment at the City Ground.
Speculation on Zinchenko’s temporary arrangement being terminated early had intensified in recent weeks, with Ajax emerging as a potential destination for the Ukrainian on another loan deal. However, a permanent transfer is now under discussion between Arsenal and the Dutch club for a modest fee.
Whilst confirmation of his next move has been postponed due to this development, the transfer is anticipated to be completed before the winter window shuts. This has been further emphasised by a report from The Sun which claims he visited both Arsenal and Forest changing rooms to bid his farewells.
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The fixture schedule falling favourably enabled him to visit both camps this weekend just gone when Forest welcomed Arsenal to the City Ground. Having started three matches since late October, Dyche had disclosed earlier this month that he’d held discussions with Zinchenko about his game-time.
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He said: “We’ve spoken to the player, made him clear on his situation. He’s aware of that, we’ll see what happens.
“He’s played a couple of games, but hasn’t featured in others. He’s been injured.
“That hasn’t been helpful to him or to us. I’ve just been open with him, really. It’s like I say, I’m open with all players.
“But I think when you’ve done as much as he has in the game, it’s more of a conversation. Not demanding anything other than just telling him the truth, as I see it.
“And that’s how much he can figure out, how much game-time he’s going to get at this time.”
He’s expected to join Ethan Nwaneri as an Arsenal player departing elsewhere during this transfer window, with the academy product securing a loan move to Marseille. Zinchenko has made 10 appearances for Forest, with his departure ahead of the 2025/26 season approved after he lost his place in the Arsenal starting XI.
Arsenal have brought in Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie since Zinchenko’s arrival – with all three able to operate at left-back. The rise of Myles Lewis-Skelly didn’t help his playing time, either.
He had featured 91 times under Mikel Arteta before that following his £32million transfer from Manchester City, where he appeared 128 times.
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