Former Arsenal and Chelsea youngster signs for Fleetwood Town | OneFootball

Fleetwood Town have secured the services of defender Zech Medley, a former Arsenal prospect, following the financial dissolution of his previous club, KV Oostende.

Medley, 23, joins the Cod Army on a two-year contract after becoming a free agent due to the Belgian club’s bankruptcy.

Zech Medley after joining KV Oostende (Photo via KVO.be)

The centre-back had a promising start at Arsenal, joining their academy from Chelsea, where he had spent eight years, at 16 and making three senior appearances for the Gunners. He gained further experience with loan spells at Gillingham and Kilmarnock before transferring to Oostende.

Medley’s departure from Arsenal in June 2021 came as a surprise, as he was still under contract with the club. Despite this, the transfer was finalised as a free transfer, signalling a mutual agreement between the player and the club.

Arsenal, however, retained a sell-on clause and a first-option clause in his contract with Oostende, although these became moot following the club’s unfortunate demise.

This new chapter for Medley highlights the unpredictable nature of football, where financial instability can drastically alter a player’s trajectory.

As Zech Medley embarks on this new journey with Fleetwood Town, Arsenal fans will undoubtedly watch with interest, remembering his early promise and hoping for his success in League Two.