Jeff Reine-Adelaide was never given a chance in the Premier League with Arsenal – now he’s joined French giants Lyon for a huge fee.
For Arsene Wenger, an otherwise rudimentary 2-0 EFL Cup win against Reading in October 2016 was just the beginning for one of Arsenal’s most promising young talents.
After Jeff Reine-Adelaide dazzled Gunners fans with some memorable displays at the Emirates Cup, a manager responsible for the rapid rise of Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and co was convinced that he had unearthed another diamond in the rough. That promising cameo against Reading just added to the midfielder’s growing reputation.
“My belief is that Jeff is ready to play because he has it all in his locker – the strength, the physical power, the technical level,” Wenger told The Metro almost three years ago.
Fast forward to 2019 and Reine-Adelaide is starting to justify Wenger’s claim that he belongs at the very top of the European game. Unfortunately, however, he’s hoping to fulfil his vast potential some 570 miles south of North London.
As reported by One Football, Lyon have now completed the signing of Reine-Adelaide from Ligue 1 rivals Angers. A player Arsenal sold for peanuts is now a £23 million midfielder.
And anyone who has watched the 21-year-old regularly over the last 12 months will tell you that a big-money move was always going to happen. Reine-Adelaide has enjoyed a superb 2019, starring for France at the U21 European Championships before producing a masterclass of a performance in Angers’ 3-1 Ligue 1 opening win Bordeaux on Saturday.
According to Goal, Arsenal will receive a healthy £5 million thanks to a sell-on clause in Reine-Adelaide’s contract. But that is not enough for those who always shared Wenger’s high hopes for a midfielder with class by the bucket load.
Still very meagre reward & If you consider we sold Gnabry for peanuts too it really is a schemozzle
— David Russell (@Gunnadownunda) August 15, 2019
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