Saint-Etienne star Adil Aouchiche is set to quit the French club in the coming days to sign for Feyenoord, with Arsenal almost landing the talented Frenchman back in 2020 before his move to Les Verts.
According to RCM Sport, the once ‘generational’ PSG academy graduate has decided to leave Saint-Etienne following their shock relegation down to Ligue 2 last season, with Feyenoord set to sign Aouchiche for €5m (£4.2m) as the former French giants continue to sell some of their best players this summer.
Things have not quite worked out for Aouchiche since his move to Saint-Etienne in 2020, with the midfielder, who is still only 19-years-old, rejected a move to Arsenal to sign for the then-Ligue 1 side, a decision that has not worked out despite the playmaker making 75 appearances for the French side.
Aouchiche’s development has coincided with Saint-Etienne’s chaotic off-the-field actions, with the teenager not progressing as much as pundits and fans predicted when the signing was initially confirmed back in 2020, much to the dismay of Arsenal.
Reports from two years ago claim that Mikel Arteta was keen to sign Aouchiche, who left PSG for free after his academy contract with the French giants came to an end, though it was Saint-Etienne and their promise of regular football who won out over the Gunners and their more long-term plan for the midfielder.
Indeed, Saint-Etienne’s relegation has opened the door for Aouchiche to quit the club for good, and whilst Arsenal could still be a realistic destination for the midfielder, signing for Feyenoord makes way more sense for the French prospect given the Dutch club’s immaculate record when it comes to youth development.
Aouchiche signing for Feyenoord is perfect two years after Arsenal rejection
Aouchiche emerged from PSG’s academy as one of France’s next great hopes for the future, with the ‘generational’ tag somewhat understandable given how much hype was surrounding the midfielder at the time, and two years on from rejecting Arsenal, the youngster still could develop into an outstanding player for Feyenoord.
The Netherlands side are one of the best clubs in Europe for giving young players the time and education needed to develop into brilliant stars on the pitch, and Aouchiche is making a smart decision signing for Feyenoord this summer.
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