Zohran Mamdani receives Arsenal shirt signed by Pascal Cygan at Gracie Mansion | OneFootball

Zohran Mamdani received an Arsenal shirt signed by Pascal Cygan at Gracie Mansion, the New York mayor’s official residence, on Thursday 16 July.

The presentation followed his 24 November 2025 appearance on The Adam Friedland Show, when the newly elected Democrat reaffirmed his love for Arsenal and namechecked Sébastien Squillaci, Pascal Cygan and, playfully, Marouane Chamakh. According to L'Équipe, the next day Cygan, who made 98 appearances for the Gunners between 2002 and 2006, said he was touched and wanted to thank him by sending a signed shirt from the Invincibles season after playing in 18 Premier League matches in 2003-2004.

Over the following months, repeated attempts to post the shirt to City Hall were blocked by fluctuating customs charges on valuable parcels, so an in person handover during the World Cup was proposed.

After months of talks with the 34-year-old mayor’s team, a meeting set for 29 June, at the end of the group stage, was cancelled because a heatwave hit New York, forcing crisis meetings.

Fresh negotiations produced a new date, and a reporter met Mamdani in a lounge at Gracie Mansion during an event for New York volunteers involved during the tournament. The shirt was handed over, and he reacted with clear delight on seeing it and spotting Cygan’s autograph.

The mayor then posed with the jersey for a photograph that captured the United States and New York flags alongside the name Cygan, a throwback treasured by Mamdani.

Source: L'Équipe