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German midfielder Mesut Ozil has confirmed his move from Arsenal to Fenerbahce, saying he was “very excited” to play for the Turkish giants and that he was fit to play despite missing nearly a year of football.
Ozil, 32, has not played for Arsenal since March and was left out of the club’s Premier League and Europa League squads at the start of the season.
Ozil, who has Turkish ancestry, has long been linked with a move to Fenerbahce, the country’s second most decorated club.
Speaking to Turkish broadcaster NTV, Ozil said he had supported Fenerbahce all his life, adding that he would arrive in Istanbul early on Monday to seal his move.
“I am a Fenerbahce fan. That is why I am very happy to be coming to Turkey with Fenerbahce,” Ozil said.
“I’m very excited. God gave me the chance to wear this jersey as a Fenerbahce fan. God willing, I will carry it with honour and do everything I can for the team.
“Of course, I’m missing a few matches. I haven’t played in a match in a while, but I am physically fit, I have no issues.”
He added that he had been training with the first team at Arsenal during his time off the pitch.
Ozil was reported to have said goodbye to his Arsenal teammates on Sunday at the club’s London Colney training ground.
Signed in 2013 for a then-club record fee of Stg 42 million ($A74 million) from Real Madrid, Ozil played a crucial role under Arsene Wenger in ending Arsenal’s trophy drought, winning the FA Cup in his first season.
But he found himself marginalised under Wenger’s replacement Unai Emery and again by current manager Mikel Arteta, who said the player’s omission from the squad was for “football reasons”.
© AAP
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