Lucas Perez has signed for Arsenal‘s Champions League round of 16 opponents PSV. The 36-year-old, who spent two years at the Emirates Stadium between 2016 and 2018, has joined the Eredivisie side on a contract until the end of the season.
Perez had been playing his football with boyhood club Deportivo La Coruna in Spain’s second division. He re-joined the La Liga 2 club in January 2023 and scored 29 goals in 76 appearances during his fourth spell before his contract was terminated after requesting to leave for ‘personal reasons’.
Having spent a matter of weeks as a free agent, Perez has now found a new club – and it’s his 12th of his professional career. The Spaniard has joined PSV for the remainder of the campaign but will not be available for their Champions League last 16 two-legged tie against ex-club Arsenal due to UEFA rules stating any squad changes must be made before midnight February 6.
PSV host the Gunners in Eindhoven on Tuesday, March 4, before their trip to the Emirates on Wednesday, March 12. Speaking after making the move to PSV, Perez told the club’s website: “I can’t wait to show myself to the fans and my new teammates. I am very ambitious and look forward to delivering a lot of goals and assists. My first impression of the club is very good, I am energized by the people I have already met.”
Perez, who could make his debut on Wednesday against Go Ahead Eages added: “PSV was right on top of things and did everything they could to bring me to Eindhoven. That did me very well.
“Unfortunately, it took a little longer than planned to come to a final agreement, due to personal reasons on my part. I found a solution for that and I am very grateful for the fact that the club management of PSV remained so patient.”
Arsene Wenger bought Perez for Arsenal in a £17.1million deal from Deportivo in August 2016. He hit the ground running at the Gunners, grabbing an assist on his debut before scoring a brace on his second start for the club against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup.
Although Perez returned with an impressive seven goals and five assists in 21 games, his first season at Arsenal was blighted by injuries. He ended up returning to Deportivo on loan for the 2017/18 campaign before departing the Gunners on a permanent deal the following summer, moving to West Ham for £4m.
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