Johan Djourou takes pay cut as he leaves Arsenal for Hamburg

Johan Djourou has revealed he took a pay cut to leave Arsenal and join Hamburg on loan for the whole of next season.

Djourou has fallen out of favour under manager Arsene Wenger and was desperate to move elsewhere in order to get more first team football.

The 26-year-old defender, who has been at Arsenal since 2004, hopes playing for the Bundesliga club will give his career a much needed boost.

He said: "In London I could have earned considerably more money, but that wasn't the decisive factor. Everything was just right for me at Hamburg. Above all, the sporting aspect convinced me.

"I want to play as much as possible and to improve, and this is why I can see the ideal conditions for myself in Hamburg."

He could end up making the switch permanently should he impress as Hamburg included an option in the loan deal to talk about a transfer at the end of the campaign.