Willian has left Arsenal by mutual consent after the two sides agreed to terminate his contract, the club have announced.
The Brazil international joined Arsenal from London rivals Chelsea last August, signing a three-year deal worth £240,000 a week.
He made 37 appearances during a difficult 2020/21 season, scoring just one goal and making three assists, two of which came on the opening day and his debut against Fulham.
He hasn’t featured for the Gunners this season after appearing to return from preseason overweight.
The club wrote on their website that “he had two more years to run on his contract but following constructive recent discussions with him and his team, he will be leaving for a new opportunity with Corinthians in Brazil, where he began his career.”
Willian himself apologised to Arsenal fans for his disappointing spell in North London, writing on Instagram that “all my career I have done everything to be the best I can be – [I] always want to win and I find it hard to accept not doing so.
“Unfortunately it didn’t happen for me at Arsenal and I am sorry about that.”
The 33-year-old, who has been capped 70 times by Brazil, also hit out at critics that said he joined Arsenal for “financial reasons,” writing that “”I hope [that] with my actions today [I] explain to those people and they now understand that was not the case.” By terminating his contract, he has reportedly saved the club £20.5m in wages.
He departs the Premier League having played more games in the competition than any other Brazilian, winning two league titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Europa League during his seven-year spell with Chelsea.
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