{"id":561669,"date":"2020-08-12T07:02:31","date_gmt":"2020-08-12T11:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=561669"},"modified":"2026-01-30T16:49:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T21:49:41","slug":"former-arsenal-midfielder-joins-spanish-side-villarreal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/08\/12\/former-arsenal-midfielder-joins-spanish-side-villarreal\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Arsenal Midfielder Joins Spanish Side Villarreal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Villarreal have completed the signing of ex-Arsenal<\/a> midfielder Francis Coquelin<\/a> from fellow La Liga<\/a> side Valencia.<\/p>\n

Former Arsenal Midfielder Joins Spanish Side Villarreal<\/h2>\n

Coquelin Joins Villarreal on Four-Year Deal<\/h3>\n

The Frenchman has signed with Villarreal for an undisclosed fee after two and a half seasons with Valencia.<\/p>\n

He makes the short journey up Spain’s east coast to join El Submarino Amarillo,\u00a0<\/em>agreeing on a four-year deal with the club.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old will join up with ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery, who is currently at the helm at the Estadio de la Cer\u00e1mica.<\/p>\n

Short Trip From Valencia to Villarreal for Former Arsenal Man<\/h3>\n

Coquelin makes the move to Villareal after featuring 89 times for Valencia. During his stay at the Mestalla, he helped the Spanish side win the 2018\/19 Copa Del Rey.<\/p>\n

Unai Emery will be hoping that the defensive midfielder can bolster his options in the middle of the park ahead of the upcoming La Liga season.<\/p>\n

He made 36 appearances across all competitions last campaign, featuring six times during Valencia’s run to the Champions League round of 16.<\/p>\n

With Villarreal finishing fifth last term, compared to Valencia’s disappointing ninth-placed finish, the Frenchman will get the chance to feature on the continental stage once more.<\/p>\n

Frenchman Makes Second Move Since Leaving the Emirates<\/h3>\n

Coquelin’s transfer to Villarreal comes 12 years after he first signed for Arsenal. It was during international duty, for France’s under-17 side, that he caught Arsenal’s eye.<\/p>\n

The next 10 years were spent at Arsenal, with three separate loan moves during that time. He spent seasons with both FC Lorient and SC Freiburg before breaking into Arsenal’s first-team.<\/p>\n

Coquelin also had a short stint on loan with then Championship<\/a> side, Charlton Athletic.<\/p>\n

The former France youth international played 105 times for the Gunners; winning the FA Cup in 2015 and 2017 as well as the 2014\/15 Community Shield.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>