Arsenal expiring contracts: Who is free to leave in 2026 and 2027?

Silver medals are becoming commonplace at the Emirates Stadium, but Arsenal headed into the 2025-26 season more desperate than ever for the glittering golden prize.

On the back of a third straight second-placed Premier League finish, Arsenal waved goodbye to a couple of notable long-serving stars, as Kieran Tierney went back home to Celtic six years after his arrival in North London.

Arsenal were also unable to agree a new deal with Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey, who has since been charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault since becoming a free agent.

Now that the new financial year is upon us, Sports Mole takes a look at the Arsenal players whose contracts either expire at the end of June 2026, or in the summer of 2027.

Which Arsenal players are out of contract in the summer of 2026?

Karl Hein

Age: 23

Position: Goalkeeper

Transfer value: £2.5m

Joined: Jul 1, 2018

Joining fee: Free

Arsenal appearances: 1

Arsenal clean sheets: 0

Honours

None

Estonia international Karl Hein played third fiddle to David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale in 2023-24 but was a regular presence on the bench after making his debut in an EFL Cup loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022-23.

The 23-year-old was due to become a free agent in June 2024 but agreed a short-term extension until the end of the 2024-25 campaign before joining Real Valladolid on loan, where he failed to keep the Spanish side afloat in La Liga.

Now, Hein will ply his trade on loan at Werder Bremen for the 2025-26 campaign, after which he could very well depart the Emirates Stadium for nothing.

Oleksandr Zinchenko

Age: 28

Position: Left-back

Transfer value: £15.9m

Joined: Jul 22, 2022

Joining fee: £24.8m

Arsenal appearances: 91

Arsenal goals: 3

Honours

Premier League (4): 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22
FA Cup (1): 2018-19
EFL Cup (4): 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21
Community Shield (2): 2018, 2019

Oleksandr Zinchenko lost his status as an undisputed starter in the 2023-24 campaign, and he will now represent Nottingham Forest on loan for the 2025-26 season before an expected free transfer in the summer.

Which Arsenal players are out of contract in the summer of 2027?

Leandro Trossard

Age: 30

Position: Winger

Transfer value: £18.6m

Joined: Jan 20, 2023

Joining fee: £20.4m

Arsenal appearances: 140

Arsenal goals: 33

Honours

Community Shield (1): 2023
Jupiler Pro League (1): 2018-19
Belgian Cup (1): 2013

Leandro Trossard has proven to be a brilliant purchase from Brighton & Hove Albion since joining midway through the 2022-23 campaign, and a new deal is believed to be a topic of discussion at Arsenal following summer interest from Saudi Arabia.

The 2025 summer transfer window closed with Trossard still at the club, but as things stand, he is another high-profile player who could leave for nothing in 2027.

Reiss Nelson

Age: 25

Position: Winger

Transfer value: £14m

Joined: 2007

Joining fee: Free

Arsenal appearances: 90

Arsenal goals: 8

Honours

FA Cup (1): 2019-20
Community Shield (2): 2017, 2020

Reiss Nelson was loaned out to Brentford on transfer deadline day, and the Bees also have the option to buy the winger, whose Arsenal contract could also still be extended by another 12 months to protect his value.

Gabriel Jesus

Age: 28

Position: Striker

Transfer value: £22m

Joined: July 4, 2022

Joining fee: £45m

Arsenal appearances: 96

Arsenal goals: 26

Honours

Premier League (4): 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22
FA Cup (1): 2018-19
EFL Cup (4): 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21
Community Shield (2): 2018, 2019
Brasileiro (1): 2016
Copa do Brasil (1): 2015

Recently making a full recovery from a devastating ACL injury, Gabriel Jesus is unlikely to be awarded a contract extension if a new striker comes in, so a parting of the ways in 2026 is looking increasingly possible.

There was talk of Flamengo making an attempt to bring Jesus back to Brazil on loan this summer, although such reports are now understood to be wide of the mark.

Bukayo Saka

Age: 24

Position: Winger

Transfer value: £123.4m

Joined: 2008

Joining fee: Free

Arsenal appearances: 280

Arsenal goals: 76

Honours

FA Cup (1): 2019-20
Community Shield (2): 2020, 2023

Hale End starboy Bukayo Saka can leave his boyhood club for nothing in just two years' time, but talks over an extension have ramped up, and there are currently no concerns about where his future lies.

Fabio Vieira

Age: 25

Position: Attacking midfielder

Transfer value: £15.9m

Joined: July 1, 2022

Joining fee: £30m

Arsenal appearances: 49

Arsenal goals: 3

Honours

Community Shield (1): 2023
Primeira Liga (2): 2019-20, 2021-22
Taca de Portugal (1): 2021-22

Portuguese playmaker Fabio Vieira has been loaned out to Hamburger SV for the next year, and whether the German side decide to trigger their option to buy or not, he should not still be at Arsenal in 2026.

Gabriel Martinelli

Age: 24

Position: Winger

Transfer value: £39.7m

Joined: July 2, 2019

Joining fee: £6m

Arsenal appearances: 239

Arsenal goals: 56

Honours

FA Cup (1): 2019-20
Community Shield (1): 2023

Gabriel Martinelli has entered the final 24 months of his Gunners agreement, and even though he is not the same attacking force he once was in 2022-23, his deal includes a one-year option which will almost certainly be triggered.