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Lukas Podolski completes Galatasaray move from Arsenal

Galatasaray's new  forward Lukas Podolski gestures
Image: Lukas Podolski: Has left Arsenal to join Galatasaray

Lukas Podolski has completed his transfer from Arsenal to Galatasaray.

The 30-year-old Germany forward has signed a three-year deal with the option of a fourth for a fee that could rise over £10m.

The Turkish Super Lig champions will pay Arsenal just under £1.8m up-front and then £2.1m per season for three years thereafter.

Galatasaray will pay Arsenal a further £1.8m if the option of a fourth year is taken and the Gunners will also be due around £357,000 if Podolski's new side qualify for the Champions League during his contract.

After signing his contract in front of jubilant supporters and the media, Podolski said: "First of all I would like to thank everyone.

"My parents supported me to go to Galatasaray and I am very happy for it to be agreed. I came to a winning team that will compete in the Champions League if we qualify.

"Galatasaray fans gave support in the years to me last year and I feel a large share of warmth today while I'm signing."

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Lukas Podolski and Arsene Wenger, Arsenal training, December 2014
Image: Lukas Podolski was signed by Arsene Wenger in 2012 and scored 31 goals in 82 appearances for the Gunners

Sky Sports reported on Wednesday that Podolski was in talks with Hamza Hamzaoglu's side whilst on holiday in Turkey, having been told by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger he would be allowed to leave north London.

Podolski had hoped to rejuvenate his career at the Emirates after a successful second half of last season at Inter Milan, with just a year left to run on his Arsenal contract.

Galatasaray originally tried to sign Podolski while he was at Cologne in 2012 but the German World Cup winner opted to sign for Wenger instead in a deal worth £11m.

And the Istanbul-based side tried twice more to sign the forward, who struggled for chances at Arsenal ahead of the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky.