Kieran Tierney has left Arsenal and will be a Real Sociedad player during the 2023/24 season. He joins the Basque club having struggled to get regular first team football at the Emirates over the past twelve months. Here are the full details of the Kieran Tierney transfer.
The 26 year old moves to La Liga after four seasons in the Premier League with Arsenal. Despite multiple injury problems, the former Celtic man featured prominently for the North London club in his first three years in England, starting more than half of the club’s Premier League games during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.
However as Arsenal have strived to push on and reach the next level, Tierney has fallen down the pecking order. The addition of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City saw the Scotland international mostly relegated to a back-up role last season and the Gunners have been open to offers this summer for Tierney, despite new signing Jurrien Timber suffering an injury very early in his Arsenal career.
Kieran Tierney transfer – Full details
Official, confirmed. Kieran Tierney joins Real Sociedad on loan from Arsenal — no buy option clause included ⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/Cg5ZlX1bs2
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2023
Kieran Tierney has joined Real Sociedad from Arsenal on a one year loan deal. There is not believed to be any buy option in the deal which means Tierney is scheduled to return to Arsenal next summer when he will still have two years still to run on his present deal at the Emirates.
The loan fee is €1.4m according to transfermarkt with Real Sociedad also set to pay the full-back’s wages in full. The deal raises the possibility that Tierney could continue his career at Arsenal next season, depending on how well he performs in Spain and how the Gunners cope without him on the left flank.
Arsenal’s decision to loan Tierney out may surprise many given the current uncertainty they are dealing with at left back. Their four competitive games so far this season have seen Mikel Arteta start with four different players in the position. Tierney got the nod in the Community Shield, but it was Timber who came in for the Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest only to suffer an ACL injury on his full debut for the club.
Japanese international Takehiro Tomiyasu filled in on the left for the subsequent trip to Crystal Palace but endured a difficult evening which ended in a red card. That meant an opportunity for Jakub Kiwior in the weekend draw with Crystal Palace, although Zinchenko was fit enough to feature off the bench and will most likely now take over the role.
How will Kieran Tierney fit in at Real Sociedad?
Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney has completed a loan move to Real Sociedad.
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— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) August 27, 2023
Kieran Tierney stands a strong chance of being Real Sociedad’s first choice left back this season and is capable of making a big impression in La Liga if he can stay fit.
Having finished 4th last term, the San Sebastian club will feature in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in a decade, with the opportunity to play first team football in Europe’s premier competition no doubt a major factor in attracting Tierney to the Reale Arena.
Under the guidance of coach Imanol Alguacil, Real Sociedad line up with a back four with 26 year old Aihen Muñoz having started all three of the club’s league games so far this season at left back. Tierney’s quality going forward should provide a significant upgrade on Muñoz though in a league where his technical abilities should be appreciated.
This is not the first time that Real Sociedad have signed a left back from Arsenal with Nacho Monreal making a permanent transfer between the two clubs in 2019. He was a popular figure at the Basque club who haven’t really found a convincing solution in the position since Monreal suffered what would prove to be a career ending knee injury two years ago.
