David Luiz is very happy at Arsenal and very likely to stay at Emirates, says agent Kia Joorabchian

Kia Joorabchian claims there is a very high chance that David Luiz will remain at Arsenal beyond the current campaign.

The Brazilian centre-back joined Arsenal from Chelsea last summer on a one-year deal but he has already been linked with a move away, with the north London club not yet activating an option to extend his contract by a further year.

It has been mooted that Luiz could make an emotional return to Benfica with his contract at the Emirates expiring, but Joorabchian insists the 33-year-old is very happy at Arsenal and wants to stay.

Arsenal’s David Luiz is currently gearing up for the Premier League’s resumption on June 17

‘He’s very happy at Arsenal,’ Joorabchian told Sky Sports News. ‘He has an extremely good relationship with both the coach and the sporting director. He has good relationships all throughout the club, right up to the owner. He respects everybody.

‘Arsenal had an option, which expired. We also had a pandemic [coronavirus]. So the option expired in the middle of the pandemic. We are all very aware of that situation and we are all trying, very slowly, to get back to this “new normal”.

‘These contract situations, these renewals, if he stays or if he goes… will all sort themselves out when we get back to some kind of “new normal”.

‘David will sit down with Arsenal before the season begins, have his conversations and they will both decide if he will stay or not.

‘That will come before the season starts. The chances are very high [of Luiz being at Arsenal next season]. There is no desire to leave.’

Luiz endured a shaky start to the season but he has improved since Mikel Arteta’s appointment

Luiz recently fuelled speculation of a move away by claiming he has already held talks over a return to Benfica.

‘My dream is to end my career at Benfica,’ he told Portuguese newspaper Recorder. ‘When, I don’t know, but it will happen… it will, if President Vieira allows me and if the fans want me to come back. It will be one of the most beautiful moments of my career.’

But Joorabchian denied that Luiz is looking to leave already after just one season at Arsenal, claiming he ‘never mentioned about wanting to go back to Benfica now’.

The Brazilian star struggled during the early days of the season under former manager Unai Emery but following Mikel Arteta’s appointment, his performances have improved.

Luiz has featured 32 times across all competitions for the Gunners, in what has been an extremely difficult campaign to date.