Arsenal Secure Viktor Gyökeres In £68M Transfer From Sporting CP.
Arsenal Football Club have reached full agreement with Sporting CP for the signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres for a fee of £60.4 million (€70m) plus up to £8.6 million (€10m) in performance-related add-ons. The 27-year-old, who has agreed to a five-year contract, joins the Gunners as they aim to end their 22-year Premier League title drought in the 2025/26 season.
Gyökeres arrives at Arsenal after an exceptional two-year stint at Sporting CP, where he scored 97 goals in 102 appearances, including 54 goals in 52 matches during the 2024/25 season. His remarkable form helped Sporting win back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and the Portuguese Cup, with a standout hat-trick against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League highlighting his elite-level ability. The Sweden international’s pace, physicality, and clinical finishing are expected to address Arsenal’s need for a consistent goalscorer, following a 2024/25 season where injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus exposed their attacking vulnerabilities.
Transfer Negotiations and Breakthrough
The deal faced hurdles, with Sporting CP initially demanding a fee closer to €80 million. Arsenal’s offer of €65 million plus €15 million in add-ons was rejected, but Gyökeres’ determination to join the Gunners proved pivotal. Reports indicate he sacrificed €2 million in wages to facilitate the transfer and missed Sporting’s pre-season training, prompting disciplinary warnings from Sporting president Frederico Varandas. A compromise was reached, with Arsenal securing the striker for a guaranteed €70 million. Portuguese football journalist David Novo noted, “Arsenal’s persistence and Gyökeres’ commitment to the move broke the deadlock.” A post on X from @SkySportsNews confirmed, “Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon for a fixed fee of around £55m, with add-ons taking it closer to £63m.”
Gyökeres began his career at IF Brommapojkarna in Sweden before joining Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018, where he made just eight appearances. After loan spells at St. Pauli and Swansea City, he moved to Coventry City in 2021, scoring 43 goals in 116 games and earning a spot in the 2022/23 Championship Team of the Year. His £20 million transfer to Sporting in 2023 marked his rise to prominence, nearly tripling his value with his prolific output. The Athletic described him as a “relentless No. 9 who combines physicality with sharp finishing,” capable of thriving in the Premier League.
Gyökeres is Arsenal’s fourth major signing of the summer, following goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, midfielder Christian Norgaard from Brentford and Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad for £51 million. The club is also reportedly close to signing Chelsea winger Noni Madueke for £52 million. Gyökeres’ arrival is expected to ease the goal-scoring burden on Bukayo Saka, who led Arsenal’s attack last season, and bolster their challenge against Manchester City and Liverpool, who outscored Arsenal by 17 goals in 2024/25. Fans on X expressed excitement, with one post stating, “Gyökeres to Arsenal is massive! He’s the clinical finisher we’ve been missing.”
Gyökeres is set to join Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Asia, with a potential debut against AC Milan on July 23. As the Gunners prepare for their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on August 17, his integration will be key to their title aspirations. The signing signals Arsenal’s intent to compete for silverware, with Gary Neville backing them to win the 2025/26 Premier League. Gyökeres’ arrival marks a significant step in Arsenal’s resurgence, setting the stage for an exciting season at the Emirates Stadium.
