Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin joins Freiburg on loan

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin has signed a one-year loan deal with Bundesliga outfit Freiburg.

Coquelin joined Arsenal as a 17-year-old in 2008 and was a member of the squad that won the FA Youth Cup the following year.

He made his first-team debut against West Brom in the third round of the League Cup in 2009 but was sent out on loan to French side Lorient for the 2010-11 season.

He returned to Arsenal ahead of the 2011-12 season and in January was rewarded with a new long-term contract.

However, first-team opportunities have been hard to come by and the 22-year-old, who can play at both right and left-back as well as central midfield, has decided to spend the next year on loan in Germany.

The move will see Coquelin compete in the Europa League.

“Everyone at Arsenal wishes Francis success for his time in Germany,” a statement on the club’s website read.

Johan Djourou is also heading to the Bundesliga after signing a loan deal with Hamburg SV.

Djourou, who has made 144 appearances for the Gunners, spent the last six months of the 2012-13 season on loan with Hannover 96 and he will head back to Germany for the new campaign.