Transfer Centre

Hector Bellerin agent 'negotiating contract termination with Arsenal'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 10 August 2022

The agent of Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin is reportedly in talks with the club over terminating the Spaniard's contract to allow him to return to Real Betis.

The agent of Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin is reportedly in London to discuss terminating his client's contract with the Gunners.

The Spaniard was not included in the squad for Friday's opening 2-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace as he seeks a permanent exit from the club in the current window.

Bellerin fell behind Cedric Soares and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the pecking order last year before being sent out on loan to Real Betis, where he quickly became a first-team regular.

Bellerin set up five goals in 32 games across all tournaments as Los Verdiblancos won the Copa del Rey, sealing a spot in the Europa League in the process.

The 27-year-old did not make his move permanent at the end of his loan spell, though, and he was involved in Arsenal's pre-season tour of the USA last month.

Hector Bellerin in action for Real Betis in February 2022 © Reuters

Betis are known to want to sign Bellerin on a permanent basis, but Manuel Pellegrini's side have hitherto been struggling to stump up the cash to match Arsenal's price tag.

Instead, there have been suggestions that Arsenal could ultimately relent and agree to terminate Bellerin's contract, which now has less than 12 months left to run.

According to Marca, the right-back representative is now negotiating a contract termination with Arsenal, and there is hope that an agreement can be reached by the end of the week.

Bellerin is supposedly willing to forgo the final year of his wages with Arsenal to seal a return to Betis on a free transfer, but the Verdiblancos are currently struggling to register players with La Liga due to salary limits.

Bellerin would follow the likes of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sead Kolasinac, Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi in having his Arsenal contract terminated as he prepares to end his 11-year spell in North London.

Arsenal's Hector Bellerin celebrates scoring their third goal on February 14, 2021 © Reuters

The Spain international has registered nine goals and 29 assists in 239 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions since joining from Barcelona in 2011, winning three FA Cups and three Community Shields in that time.

Arsenal are set to ramp up their outgoings before the end of the window, with Lucas Torreira, Bernd Leno, Alexandre Lacazette, Matteo Guendouzi and Konstantinos Mavropanos all heading elsewhere.

Bellerin's compatriot and fellow defender Pablo Mari is also set to depart in the coming weeks amid interest from Monza and Hellas Verona, while goalkeeper Alex Runarsson is understood to be in talks over a loan move to Turkish Super Lig side Antalyaspor.

The futures of Reiss Nelson, Nicolas Pepe and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are also up in the air, but Nelson and Pepe did make the bench at Selhurst Park last week, with Maitland-Niles left out entirely.

Arsenal's first home game of the new season sees them tackle Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and Arteta has been handed a triple injury boost ahead of the fixture.