Arsenal Set to Sign Viktor Gyokeres for £63.8 Million

Arsenal is finalizing the signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres for a fee of £63.8 million. The 27-year-old forward is currently traveling to London with his agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, to undergo a medical examination. This step is crucial for completing the transfer before Gyokeres joins the squad for their upcoming pre-season tour in Asia.

The Gunners have agreed to pay a guaranteed fee of £55.1 million, with potential add-ons that could reach up to £8.7 million. Negotiations have been ongoing for over a week, and according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, both Gyokeres and Cetinkaya are committed to finalizing the deal. Cetinkaya notably waived his commission, which is estimated at around £5.6 million, to facilitate his client’s move to Arsenal.

Arsenal’s agreement with Sporting Lisbon stipulates that the Portuguese club will receive £1.09 million for every 20 matches Gyokeres plays for Arsenal, with a maximum payout of £4.36 million. Additionally, Sporting will earn £430,000 for every 20 goals or assists he provides, capped at £873,000. Each time Arsenal qualifies for the Champions League, Sporting Lisbon is set to receive another payment of £873,000, potentially totaling £3.5 million.

Gyokeres’s agent played a pivotal role in expediting the negotiations, as the breakthrough in talks occurred earlier this week after Sporting Lisbon thoroughly reviewed the contracts. The club is optimistic about receiving the full amount, given that the add-ons are considered easily achievable.

Having joined Sporting Lisbon from Coventry City for approximately £20 million in 2023, Gyokeres has demonstrated exceptional scoring ability. In just two seasons in Portugal, he netted an impressive 97 goals in 102 matches. Last season alone, he scored 54 goals across all competitions, including a standout hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League.

This transfer represents Gyokeres’s return to English football, where he previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion and Coventry City. According to The Athletic, he is expected to wear the iconic number 14 shirt at Arsenal, a number famously associated with the club’s all-time top scorer, Thierry Henry.

Arsenal’s pursuit of Gyokeres is part of a busy summer transfer window for the club. They have already secured midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad for £51 million, and central midfielder Christian Norgaard from Brentford for £15 million. The Gunners also added Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea for £5 million, as well as winger Noni Madueke in a deal worth up to £52 million. Most recently, they confirmed the signing of defender Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia for an initial fee of approximately £13 million.

With these strategic signings, Arsenal aims to strengthen their squad as they prepare for the upcoming season. The addition of Gyokeres is anticipated to enhance their attacking options significantly, making the club a formidable contender in both the Premier League and European competitions.