Arsenal Set for Joe Willock Windfall from Besiktas Move

Arsenal’s summer business may be about to receive an unexpected cash injection from a familiar face.

A sell-on clause inserted into Joe Willock’s 2021 move to Newcastle United is poised to pay out, with the midfielder closing in on a permanent switch to Besiktas worth around £17.4million.

A smart clause comes back into play

When Arsenal agreed to sell Willock three years ago, the £25m fee looked like tidy business for a homegrown midfielder who had dazzled on loan at St. James’ Park but faced a crowded path to minutes in north London.

Crucially, the deal also contained a sell-on clause. The exact percentage remains under wraps, but the principle is clear: every pound Newcastle bank from Willock’s next move will send a slice back to the Emirates.

Now, with Willock entering the final 12 months of his contract and Newcastle ready to cash in, that clause is suddenly very relevant.

Newcastle have already knocked back a £10m offer earlier in the summer. ChronicleLive report that Willock’s agent has travelled to Turkey, where personal terms with Besiktas have been agreed ahead of a proposed £17.4m transfer. With the clock ticking on his deal, this is the Magpies’ moment to sell.

For Arsenal, it’s found money at a time when every margin matters.

From Emirates prospect to St. James’ mainstay

Willock’s story is tightly woven into both clubs.

He broke into Arsenal’s first team in 2017 and marked his Premier League debut with a goal against Newcastle in April 2018, a neat twist in the narrative given where his career would soon head. Across four seasons in red and white, he made 78 appearances and scored 11 goals, flashing the late-running, penalty-box instincts that made him such an intriguing academy product.

Newcastle turned that promise into production. After his explosive loan spell, they made the move permanent in 2021, and Willock went on to rack up 168 appearances and 11 goals for the Magpies. Across five years in the North East, he grew from loanee spark plug into a trusted squad figure.

Now, with his time at St. James’ Park seemingly winding down, both clubs stand to gain from his next step.

Timely boost for Arsenal’s title defence plans

Mikel Arteta’s side are gearing up for a Premier League title defence and have already been busy. Christos Tzolis, Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier and Bruno Guimaraes have all arrived as Arsenal push to deepen and refine a squad that went the distance last season.

Even so, the work is not done. Arsenal remain in the market for a left-winger, a position identified as a key area to reinforce.

Targets have not been easy to land. Morgan Rogers was on the radar before Chelsea moved decisively to sign the England international. Vinicius Junior has also been linked, but Real Madrid closed that door by tying the Brazilian star to new terms.

In that context, any extra funds from Willock’s move matter. They can be rolled directly into the next deal, used to edge up a bid, stretch the wage structure a fraction further, or simply give Arsenal more room to manoeuvre as the window tightens.

A clause agreed in 2021, almost a footnote at the time, now feeds into the 2024 title race. The question is simple: how far can smart business on a former academy graduate push Arsenal’s summer plans?