Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles sealed loan moves away from the Emirates, while Shkodran Mustafi completed a permanent transfer to Schalke on a busy deadline day for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s rebuilding project at the north London club stepped up a gear as the Gunners rounded off an active January transfer window with multiple last-minute departures. Willock joined Newcastle on loan until the end of the season, while Maitland-Niles moved to West Brom on a six-month loan spell.

The two Gunners academy graduates found playing time hard to come by this season and will be likely to feature more regularly at their new clubs. Meanwhile, Mustafi’s contract at Arsenal was terminated, allowing him to move to Schalke on a six-month deal to replace Ozan Kabak, who joined Liverpool on deadline day. The Germany international made the switch to Arsenal from Valencia for £35million back in 2016 but fell down the pecking order of centre-backs at the Emirates this season. Arsenal technical director Edu and boss Mikel Arteta both wished the 28-year-old well upon his exit from the club.

Earlier in the January window, the Gunners also let William Saliba and Sead Kolasinac go out on loan, while the contracts of Mesut Ozil and Sokratis were terminated. In terms of incomings at the Emirates, Arsenal brought in midfielder Martin Odegaard and goalkeeper Mat Ryan both on six-month loan deals.

Shkodran Mustafi terminates Arsenal contract to join Schalke on a six-month deal; Bundesliga club will pay compensation fee; Mustafi replaces Ozan Kabak, who joined Liverpool on loan with option to buy after a deal agreed on Deadline Day.  With this move the Gunners are due to be paid a small compensation fee. The 28-year-old became keen on a move back to Germany after falling out of favour under manager Mikel Arteta this season, making just nine appearances, three of which have come in the Premier League.

Mustafi, a World Cup winner with Germany in 2014, signed for Arsenal in 2016 from Valencia in a £35m deal. In his four-and-a-half-year stay at the Emirates, he won the FA Cup twice and helped the Gunners reach the Europa League final in 2019. Schalke needed a replacement for Ozan Kabak, who has sealed a move to Liverpool after a deal was agreed on Deadline Day. The Merseyside club, who have been racing to get a deal done for the 20-year-old, are paying an initial £1m, rising to £1.5m in potential add-ons, to take the defender on loan.

Liverpool will have the option to buy him in the summer for an initial fee of £18m, potentially rising to £26.5m with add-ons depending on his appearances for the club as well as their performance in the Champions League.