Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has revealed he intends to pursue a move elsewhere when his contract expires.
The summer signing from German giants Borussia Dortmund has established himself as the Premier League side’s first-choice centre-back.
The Greek’s solid debut season in Premier League football has seen him adapt quickly after leaving BVB.
Following five seasons with Dortmund, former Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat snapped up the experienced 30-year-old for £17.6 million.
Sokratis reunited with former teammates Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in north London.
And Arsenal supporters have been pleased with his displays, especially given the Gunners’ ongoing, long-term defensive weakness.
Shkodran Mustafi remains a liability at the back, having clumsily given away the penalty in Saturday’s 1-1 derby draw with north London rivals Tottenham at Wembley.
Laurent Koscielny returned midway through the campaign following long-term injury but will turn 34 in September, and while a big future is expected for Konstantinos Mavropanos, the 21-year-old is still raw and inexperienced at the top level.
Sokratis signed a three-year contract when he joined Emirates side, meaning he is only tied down until June 2021 and has now told German newspaper Kicker: ”In the summer I will be 31.
“I will have two years left on my contract with Arsenal, then I would like to play in the US or in Asia, or Greece, in the team of my city.”
As a result, the experienced Greece international is looking to play out his days in a lesser league before hanging up his boots.