'I'm ready' - Former Arsenal and Fulham star still searching for new club after Gunners release

Former Arsenal and Fulham star Cedric Soares is on the lookout for a new club after departing the Emirates Stadium at the end of last season. The full-back spent four years with the Gunners, arriving in 2020 from Southampton and generally struggling for game time.

Soares made just 36 league appearances during his time with the Gunners, and he spent time on loan with Fulham in 2023, making six league appearances. The 34-time Portugal international was released at the end of his contract during the summer just gone.

But unlike many released players, Soares has failed to find a new club, still on the lookout at the age of 33. “I continue to train every day. I’m ready to join any time,” he told the Record, as reported by SportWitness.

“I feel good physically. Any time an interesting, competitive project comes along, which I also think is right for me and my family. Could we see Cédric in Portugal again? If the opportunity arises and it makes sense, yes. But I fought hard to have the career I’ve had. And I wanted to continue it in a competitive way and at a good level.

“And I think the Portuguese league has really grown a lot. It’s become a very interesting league. But as I said, it has to make sense. And a team that’s also open to it.”

One move Soares may not be so keen on is a move to Sporting Lisbon Benfica or FC Porto, two rivals of former club Sporting CP. He added: “That question had to come up [laughs]. Let’s spoil the interview. It was going well [laughs]. As I said, it’s a very interesting league. And I’m going to leave it at that.”

Soares’ lack of Arsenal opportunities

Soares was actually signed by Mikel Arteta, but he rarely got opportunities, something he expressed frustration over back in October of 2022. He said at the time: “Of course I am disappointed that I have not played yet this season. I believe since I arrived at Arsenal I have been giving positive answers on the pitch every time I had the chance to play.

“I have been working hard every day, as this is the only way I know to get where you want to be. Of course I want to play and I want to help the team to win and achieve its goals and I will grab the opportunity when I get it. I feel I am in great shape and I am always 100 per cent ready to help the team. I like to help the team in any way I can on and off the pitch and that’s important to me. Challenges are part of football and we have to understand that.”

Arteta said in response the same week: “The competition is one thing, the second one is because he was injured for a while. He had a recurring injury but now he is fully fit and he’s a player that deserves to play and I want to give him the minutes because he deserves it.”