Former Arsenal striker seals move to obscure club after contract ripped up

Former Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo has joined Qingdao Red Lions, a club in China's second division. This move comes after his contract with Armenian side Urartu was terminated early.

Sanogo started his career at French club Auxerre before moving to Arsenal in 2013. He spent four years with the Gunners but only scored one goal in 20 appearances. During his time at Arsenal, he also had loan spells at Crystal Palace, Ajax and Charlton. Despite his limited game time, he won the FA Cup and Community Shield with Arsene Wenger's team in 2014.

After leaving Arsenal, Sanogo played for Toulouse for three years and had a brief stint at Huddersfield before moving to Armenia. He won the Armenian cup with Urartu, who are based in the capital, Yerevan. However, his contract was terminated early. Now, after a few months as a free agent, Sanogo has moved to Qingdao Red Lions, a club located on China's coast and playing in China League One the tier below the Chinese Super League.

Arsenal fans have reacted to the news of his move on Reddit, showing the cult status he holds among the Gunners' supporters. One fan wrote: «The man. The myth. The legend.» Another added: «I still remember that one good game he had for us.»

One fan joked, «Chinese second tier ain't ready for the chaos factor,» about Sanogo's move. Another remembered his virtual skills saying, «FM12 legend».

The player's switch to China is a sign that his peak playing years are behind him, but in 2013 Arsenal's then-boss Arsene Wenger was excited about him. The Frenchman said: «Sanogo is a good young signing for us. He has shown he has potential with his recent performances for Auxerre and also for the France Under-20 side. We are looking forward to Yaya joining us and continuing his