Sambi Lokonga has sealed a permanent transfer to Hamburg, ending his three-year stint at Arsenal in a deal that is expected to bring the Gunners a fee, though the figure has not yet been disclosed.
Born in Belgium but of Congolese heritage, the 24-year-old midfielder struggled to establish himself at the Emirates following his £17 million switch from Anderlecht in 2021.
Despite early promise, Lokonga never fully convinced Mikel Arteta, with injuries and inconsistency disrupting his rhythm.
After featuring regularly in the first half of his debut campaign, his opportunities dwindled and confidence suffered.
A loan to Crystal Palace in 2022/23 offered a brief revival before successive spells at Luton Town and Sevilla. Both stints provided valuable experience, yet Sevilla declined the €12 million option to make the move permanent this summer.
Hamburg, however, view the signing as a coup. Board member Stefan Kuntz praised his versatility, saying: “With the signing of Sambi, we are gaining a strong and experienced midfielder.
“He has proven his qualities at the highest levels of play in the Premier League and La Liga over the past few years and will help our team in build-up play and transition play. We are very pleased to welcome him to HSV.”
Lokonga himself expressed optimism about the move, emphasising both his determination and adaptability.
“I’ve been given a very warm welcome here and can’t wait to work with these nice people. I’m a team player. I really want to help the team with my qualities – whether through goals, assists, or defensive work. It can start now: I want to get on the field and just play football,” he said.
The transfer represents a fresh start for Lokonga, with Hamburg offering a platform for the Belgian-Congolese midfielder to rediscover his form and fulfil long-discussed potential.
