Arsenal has made a significant addition to their squad by signing the in-demand striker Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP for a reported fee of €63 million ($74 million), plus an additional €10 million ($11.7 million) in performance-related add-ons. The 27-year-old has signed a five-year contract and will be donning the No. 14 shirt for the upcoming season.
The transfer marks the end of Arsenal’s prolonged search for a central striker. Head coach Mikel Arteta expressed his excitement about Gyökeres joining the team, highlighting the striker’s impressive performances and goal-scoring record. “Viktor has so many qualities… with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels. We’re excited about what Viktor brings to our squad,” Arteta stated.
Gyökeres arrives at Arsenal with a stellar reputation, having scored 54 goals across all competitions last season—an impressive achievement that made him the top scorer at a top-flight club in Europe. In his time in Portugal, he fired in 68 league goals from just 66 appearances since moving from Coventry City in 2023. His past experiences in English football, playing for clubs like Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, will likely aid his adaptation to the Premier League environment.
Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta praised the club’s efforts in securing Gyökeres, emphasizing his physicality, intelligence, and the winning mentality he brings to the squad. “We are confident Viktor will have a major impact on the pitch,” he noted.
This transfer is expected to bolster Arsenal’s attacking options, especially as they faced issues with injuries among their strikers in the past season. Gyökeres boasts an impressive 28.1% shot conversion rate in the Primeira Liga last season, significantly higher than the 16.5% conversion rate of Arsenal’s strikers in the Premier League.
As Arsenal gears up for their preseason tour, which includes matches against Newcastle in Singapore and Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong, the arrival of Gyökeres is expected to inject new enthusiasm and competitive edge into the team as they aim to improve upon their recent finishes in the league. This signing underscores Arsenal’s intent to seriously compete for the Premier League title in the upcoming season.