Arsenal let several young players leave this summer as they aim to revamp the Hale End Academy to add more quality to the youth ranks.
Arsenal have now made a move for Chelsea youngster Ryan McAidoo, in a bid to increase the level of the academy sides.
They have released several players this summer, with Cedric and Mohamed Elneny among the senior players departing, whilst youngsters including Tyreece John-Jules and Kido Taylor-Hart also left.
A previously highly-rated talent in midfielder Cirjan Catalin has also left, and he has now signed for a new club after his contract at the Emirates came to an end.
Cirjan Catalin joins Dinamo Bucharest after leaving Arsenal
The 21-year-old joined Arsenal as a highly-rated prospect in 2019, and spent last season on loan at Rapid Bucharest.
The Romanian has returned to his home country again to join Dinamo, after failing to make a single first-team appearance for Arsenal over the last few years.
He did appear 36 times for the under-23s, scoring four times from midfield, but a series of injuries hampered his progress, and he is now excited at the prospect of starting a new chapter at a different club.
“It’s a fresh start! Looking forward to getting the new season started!” He posted on Instagram.
Cirjan Catalin was highly rated by Mikel Arteta before Arsenal exit
The midfielder was held in high regard at Arsenal before injuries took their toll, and Catalin even revealed that Mikel Arteta had directly praised him last year.
“[Arteta] knows what I’ve been through,” he said. “He was also in a similar situation [with a long term injury],” he stated in April 2023.
“He told me that I amazed him and that he admired me for the strength with which I came back after the operations.
“I am very grateful to Mikel for the way he talked about me. Even more as these words come from the team manager of the moment, in the best championship of the world.
“I have great pride to be coached by Mikel and I try to learn as much as possible from him, especially since my style of play is very similar to the one he had as a player.”
Catalin was a top talent prior to his injuries, and he will now hope to build up a run of fitness and form at Dinamo Bucharest to help kick his career on after a difficult few years.