Despite spending the last few days training with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, the club have announced that Armand Traore will not be offered a contract.

The left-back would have been hopeful that this was his chance to find a new home, after kicker reported that Jin-Su Kim could be open to a move.

However, he will now be on the hunt once more; Traore has not played competitively since April 2015.

Sporting director, Alexander Rosen said that he had "left a good impression" during the time he spent there but it would "take time to get to his level".

Still on the search

After beginning his career in the AS Moncao youth ranks, Traore was snapped up by Arsenal on a free transfer.

He quickly impressed in North London and was joining in with the first-team on a regular basis, but it was clear game time was necessary.

Portsmouth took the option to loan him in during the 2008-09 campaign, making 28 appearances across the season and showing that their was indeed some promise.

That was rewarded with a year in the first-team squad at Arsenal, but it was a struggle to get minutes on the pitch.

Traore in action while with QPR. | Image source: Spox
Traore in action while with QPR. | Image source: Spox

Loans, but still not enough minutes

Another loan spell, this time with Juventus, followed and it was a similar story once more. He returned to Arsenal a year later with only 12 games under his belt.

One final season of being a bit-part player at the Emirates proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back, and Traore headed to Queens Park Rangers.

He became a regular at Loftus Road, either at left-back or left-midfield, and went on to make 92 appearances in a four-season stint.

Traore was part of the QPR side that miraculously stayed up on the most memorable day in Premier League history, despite that 3-2 defeat to Manchester City.

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Jonathan Walsh
SoccerSight IFA commentator. VAVEL deputy editor-in-chief/VAVEL Bundesliga editor-in-chief and writer. Email: [email protected]