Whatever happened to Joel Campbell? | OneFootball

Joel Campbell left Arsenal in 2018, so how has he done since leaving the club he was once famously told to ‘get out’ of ‘while you still can’?

Joel Campbell never really got a proper chance at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger and, when he was given half of one, seemed to do enough to warrant a longer run in the side.

For whatever reason, Wenger, despite signing Campbell, disagreed.

A series of loans saw the Costa Rican exhibit more patience than many other players would have managed but, when Wenger finally left, Campbell was shown the door as well.

A £1.35m move to Frosinone in Italy saw him make only 17 appearances for the Serie B side before he was sent on yet another loan in the January window. This time, Campbell found himself in Mexico with Club Leon FC, where he seemed to have found a home.

Signing for Leon in 2019 first on loan and then in a deal worth £1.8m, Campbell signed a three-year deal and made 123 appearances – his most for any of the 11 teams he has represented.

However, he was soon on the move again, joining Monterrey on loan in 2021 before leaving Mexico to sign for LD Alajuelense back in his home country, where he is playing today.

Since leaving Arsenal, Campbell, still only 31, has scored 21, with 17 assists, in 202 games, so he’s not exactly been banging them in in ways that make Arsenal fans feel too regretful.

Nor are those stats likely to make the person who shouted “get out while you still can, Joel,” on that train platform feel like they nailed the situation.

Campbell is still leading the line for his country after making his debut 12 years ago aged just 18. He has 132 caps with 27 goals.

Arsenal, scoring four and assisting six in stats that are deceptive.

He only ever started 11 league games for Arsenal and who knows what might have happened had he been trusted more in the side.