TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
Hopes of Mesut Ozil coming to D.C. United for the 2021 MLS season appear to have taken a blow, with The Athletic UK’s David Ornstein reporting that the German midfielder is set to leave Arsenal and sign with Turkish club Fenerbahce.
Ozil, one of the world’s top creative midfielders during his prime, hasn’t appeared for Arsenal since March 2020. The 32-year-old is among the highest-paid players in England’s Premier League, though hasn’t been in manager Mikel Arteta’s plans as he steers the Gunners.
Should Ozil indeed head to Fenerbahce, D.C. United would miss out on a marquee transfer target. A World Cup winner with Germany whose club career also includes stops at Real Madrid and Bundesliga sides Werder Bremen and Schalke, the Black-and-Red had reportedly made a bid for him.
While nothing was confirmed as of Saturday, Ozil stoked the flames with his own Twitter post. His Arsenal contract is reportedly being terminated as his London stay winds down, leaving him able to join the Turkish Super Lig side.
Just this past week, Ozil said that he hopes to play in the United States before he retires from professional soccer. That dream may still be alive, though Fenerbahce would carry appeal given the midfielder’s Turkish roots.
