Mustafi rejected new Arsenal contract and informed the club he will leave this summer

Shkodran Mustafi rejected a contract extension offered to him by Arsenal this past summer and informed the club that he intends to leave North London at the end of this season at which point he will be a free agent, according to Chris Wheatley of Football.london.

The 28 year old looked to have been made surplus to requirements under former Arsenal boss Unai Emery last summer but stayed at the club.

The German defender has come in for an abundance of criticism from Gooners over the years but enjoyed a new lease of life under current manager Mikel Arteta. Prior to an injury he suffered against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi final which ended his season, he had started 15 of the previous 17 Arsenal games. 

On being asked about Mustafi’s future in July, Arteta indicated that he was very happy with him and felt that he had been very consistent. The former Valencia defender hired a new Germany-based agent in January 2019. His father works for the same sports management company. He is understood to be keen on moving to Italy so that he can be closer to his wife’s family who live in Switzerland. 

The Gunners signed Mustafi from Valencia in 2016 for £35 million. Since joining the club, the German centre back has made 143 appearances.