Released Arsenal midfielder signs for Slovenian club | OneFootball

Former Arsenal academy midfielder Mauro Bandeira has signed for Slovenian club NK Tabor Sezana, following his release by the Gunners this summer.

Mauro Bandeira signs for NK Tabor Sezana (Photo via Bandeira on Instagram)

Slovenian second-tier club NK Tabor Sezana have confirmed the signing of Mauro Bandeira, with the midfielder joining the club as a free agent following his release by Arsenal this summer.

“I am thrilled to have joined Tabor Sežana and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead of me,” Bandeira said.

“After arriving yesterday and meeting the president and the coach, I gained a lot of confidence about the club, the culture of the city and the fans. They welcomed me with open arms and I am ready to face the challenges ahead.

“I can’t wait to meet my teammates and the rest of the staff. I am determined to do my best and contribute to the team’s success. Together, I believe we can achieve great things.”

Mauro Bandeira with the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)

Bandeira was one of a long list of Arsenal players released over the summer, with 21 members of the men’s first team and academy sides let go.

There are only a few still on the hunt for a new club, and Bandeira was one of them until last week.

Things looked relatively promising for the midfielder at the start of last season.

The youngster was going out on his first loan spell in senior football with Colchester United, after being a regular for the Arsenal u21s in 2022/23 and even making the first-team squad a few times.

Yet after just four starts on loan, Bandeira picked up a knee injury, and he never returned to the pitch with Colchester. Instead, he ended his loan spell early in January.

Mauro Bandeira playing for Colchester United (Photo via Colchester United on Twitter)

Mikel Arteta clearly liked the 20-year-old, putting him in his Premier League squad a couple of times in February of this year.

But there was never much chance of a permanent first-team promotion in Bandeira’s position, so when his contract ended in June, it wasn’t extended.

The former Gunner will now get a fresh start in Slovenia.