Arsenal to Finally Sign Superstar Striker to Bolster League Title Hopes

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A conversation that has been dragging on throughout the season, from the start of January, is finally gaining momentum as Arsenal are close to signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon. 

Fans with Arsenal tickets have rallied with Mikel Arteta on the need for a striker for more than two seasons, and now they have the perfect opportunity ahead of the new season. 

Arsenal Close In 

Arsenal are pushing to sign Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, with talks understood to be at an advanced stage.

Sporting want £60.4m (€70m) as a fixed fee for Viktor Gyokeres plus £8.6m (€10m) in add-ons.

Arsenal’s talks with Sporting for the 27-year-old striker continue, but there is no formal agreement between the clubs. However, there appears to be a willingness from all parties to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

The Gunners are thought to be encouraged by the 27-year-old’s desire to join, with personal terms not expected to be a problem

In a fresh development, Sporting have permitted Gyokeres to delay his return for pre-season.

The Sweden international was due back on Monday – a week after some of his team-mates – but he has now been given until Friday as talks with Arsenal progress.

There is no certainty, however, that he will return at all.

Bringing in a striker has been a primary focus for Arsenal in this transfer window – they have explored conditions for several players, including RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Earlier, those with Arsenal tickets were taken back when it was reported that Gyokeres was a Manchester United target, following the previous Sporting Manager and now United boss, Ruben Amorim, showing interest; however, the deal is confirmed not to go through. 

Last month, Sporting president Frederico Varandas revealed Gyokeres would not be allowed to leave for £59m (€70m) this summer.

Varandas also disputed the existence of a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Gyokeres’ agent that would allow him to leave for a fixed fee of £50.8m (€60m) plus £8.4m (€10m) in add-ons.

Gyokeres On the Rise

After joining Sporting from Coventry for around £20m in 2023, Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in 102 matches during his two seasons in Portugal.

Gyokeres scored 54 goals in 52 games in all competitions last campaign, including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League, as he helped Sporting win the league and the Portuguese Cup.

A move to Arsenal would see Gyokeres return to English football, having joined Brighton in January 2018 before moving to Coventry after loan spells at St Pauli and Swansea.

Gyokeres scored 43 goals for Coventry in his two-and-a-half seasons at the Championship side.

Sporting is expected to make a huge profit on Gyokeres’ anticipated sale.

His remarkable scoring exploits have seen him nearly triple in value to £65m in the space of two years, according to the website Transfermarkt, which valued him at less than £1m when he joined Coventry from Brighton in the summer of 2021.

He has proved a late bloomer, but his rapid rise to prominence in recent seasons has put him on the shortlists of some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Developments around Gyokeres follow Arsenal’s announcement of the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in a £51m deal.

The Spain international has signed a five-year contract at the Emirates Stadium after Arsenal agreed the transfer in March, having met his £51m release clause.

Zubimendi became Arsenal’s second signing this summer, joining fellow Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga at the club following his £5m move from Chelsea.

Brentford captain Christian Norgaard could follow Zubimendi and Kepa through the Arsenal door after a £15m deal was agreed last month to sign the Bees midfielder.

Arsenal appear to be turning their attentions to bolstering their attack now, with Chelsea expecting an offer from the Gunners for Noni Madueke.

Arsenal Sign Kepa Arrizabalaga

Arsenal have signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea in a deal, according to sources, worth £5 million ($6.9m).

Kepa, 30, had emerged as a top target for Mikel Arteta as a back-up to No.1 David Raya.

Kepa spent the last two seasons on loan at Real Madrid and AFC Bournemouth, respectively.

Arsenal were also keen on signing Joan García from Espanyol, but the 24-year-old joined La Liga champions Barcelona instead.

The Spaniard has joined the north London club on a three-year contract, which contains a release clause.

He will wear the No. 13 shirt.

Kepa kept nine clean sheets in 35 games during his year on loan at Bournemouth, with the club having the Premier League’s sixth-best defensive record in the 2024-25 season.

He will replace Neto at Arsenal as the Brazilian goalkeeper returns to Bournemouth following a year on loan in north London.

Upon completing his switch from Stamford Bridge to The Emirates Stadium, Kepa said: “I’m happy to be here, really excited and looking forward to what is coming.

“The ambition that is shown in this club, when I talk with Mikel [Arteta] and Inaki [Cana], how much they show me their desire to win… I think we are so close to winning and, hopefully, altogether, we can achieve it.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “We are really happy to have Kepa joining us. He is a player we are familiar with, having come up against him many times in recent seasons. He brings a wealth of experience that his teammates will benefit from, and he has a genuine hunger to win.

The Most Expensive Goalkeeper

Kepa joined Chelsea from Athletic Club in 2018 on a seven-year contract in a €80 million ($93m) deal that made him the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.

The goalkeeper, who won the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge, bid farewell to Chelsea fans in a post on Instagram.

“Thank you, Chelsea. After seven unforgettable years, the time has come to close a very special chapter in my life. Chelsea was my home, my family, and the place where I grew both as a footballer and as a person,” he said.

Arsenal tickets for the pre-season are now available to purchase.

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