Ex-Arsenal man’s contract cancelled | OneFootball

Ex-Arsenal man, David Luiz, has terminated his contract with Fortaleza just seven months after signing, with the 38‑year‑old set to return to Europe to join Pafos.

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The Brazilian defender had agreed a deal with Fortaleza running until December 2026 but made only 17 appearances before mutually agreeing to leave, having struggled with injuries that hampered his ability to establish himself in Renato Paiva’s side. He is currently out with a thigh injury he picked up at the start of July.

According to Brazilian outlet Globoesporte, Luiz has already agreed terms with Cypriot champions Pafos and is expected to sign a contract through to 2028, linking up with Domingos Quina, Pêpê Rodrigues and Alexandre Brito as the club prepares for their UEFA Champions League play‑off against Dynamo Kyiv.

The move marks Luiz’s return to European football since leaving Arsenal for Flamengo in 2021 and, as he will be 41 when the deal ends, looks to represent his final transfer.

Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP

He joined Arsenal from Chelsea in August 2019 for £8 million, making 73 appearances, scoring four goals and helping the club win the 2019–20 FA Cup and 2020 Community Shield. In total, even though his last two moves have been on a free, he has commanded a total of €118.7m in transfer fees through out his career, with Chelsea paying €60m of that themselves across two moves.

While praised by Mikel Arteta, who he played for 55 times, for his leadership and influence on younger players, Luiz’s time at Arsenal was also notable for many defensive lapses, including a Premier League record five penalties conceded in one season.

He left when his contract expired in June 2021, before spending three successful years at Flamengo, winning the Copa Libertadores and domestic silverware, then moving to Fortaleza in January.