19 Leandro Trossard

Leandro Trossard was born on December 4, 1994, in Maasmechelen, Limburg, Belgium, to parents Peter Trossard and Linda Scheepers. He has one younger sister.

Club Career

Genk and Loan Spells

Trossard joined K.R.C. Genk’s youth academy in 2010, moving from K. Bocholter V.V. He made his senior debut on May 13, 2012, in a match against K.A.A. Gent, but played only three minutes that season. Over the next four years, he was loaned out to several clubs to gain experience:

• Lommel United (2013 & 2014–15) – Scored seven goals in 12 matches during his first loan and 16 goals in 33 matches in his second stint, including a hat-trick against Racing Mechelen.
• Westerlo (2013–14) – Contributed three goals in 17 appearances, helping the club achieve promotion.
• OH Leuven (2015–16) – Scored eight goals in 30 matches.

Trossard finally cemented his place at Genk in the 2016–17 season, scoring his first league goal on September 25, 2016, against K.V. Kortrijk. He became a key player and scored 27 goals before leaving in 2019.

Brighton & Hove Albion (2019–2023)

On June 26, 2019, Brighton & Hove Albion signed Trossard on a four-year deal. He made an immediate impact:

• Scored on his Premier League debut in a 1–1 draw against West Ham (August 2019).
• Helped Brighton secure wins against top clubs, including goals in victories over Tottenham, Manchester City, and Manchester United.
• Became the first Brighton player to score a Premier League hat-trick in a 3–3 draw at Liverpool (October 2022).
• Notched his 100th club career goal against Manchester City (October 2022).

However, in January 2023, tensions arose between Trossard and Brighton’s manager Roberto De Zerbi, leading to his transfer.

Arsenal (2023–Present)

On January 20, 2023, Arsenal signed Trossard for a reported £27 million (including add-ons). He quickly proved his worth:

• Scored his first goal for Arsenal in a 1–1 draw against Brentford (February 2023).
• Assisted three goals in a single half against Fulham (March 2023), a Premier League record for an away player.
• Scored in the Community Shield against Manchester City, forcing a penalty shootout that Arsenal won (August 2023).
• Netted his first Champions League goal against PSV Eindhoven (September 2023).
• Scored a crucial goal in Arsenal’s Champions League win over FC Porto, helping the club reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010 (March 2024).

International Career

Trossard has been part of Belgium’s national setup since his U16 days. His senior debut came in a Nations League match against Denmark on September 5, 2020. Notable highlights:

• Scored twice in an 8–0 win over Belarus (March 2021).
• Played in UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
• Scored twice in Belgium’s 6–1 thrashing of Poland in the 2022 UEFA Nations League.
• Assisted two goals and scored in a friendly against Burkina Faso (March 2022).

Personal Life

Trossard has been in a relationship with Laura Hilven since 2014, and they married in 2019. The couple has two sons, born in 2017 and 2023.