Arsenal are on the brink of completing the high-profile signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP in a deal worth £63.5 million. The transfer, one of the most anticipated of the summer window, is expected to be finalised over the weekend, with only minor details concerning add-on payments delaying the announcement.
The 27-year-old has been granted permission to travel and undergo a medical with Arsenal, and he is expected to sign a five-year contract. Once completed, the deal will mark a major statement of intent by Mikel Arteta’s side as they aim to close the gap on Premier League champions Liverpool.
Arsenal are currently in Singapore for the opening leg of their pre-season tour of Asia. Speaking on Friday, manager Mikel Arteta remained tight-lipped when asked about the potential new arrival but hinted that any signing would join the squad as soon as possible.
“I cannot talk about a player who is not ours yet,” Arteta said. “But obviously, once we finalise everything with a player, we want to integrate him with the team quickly. Immediately is better so they can start to join the team, get to know each other, and absorb the ideas we want to instill.”
Gyokeres has been in blistering form for Sporting, scoring an astonishing 54 goals in 52 matches last season and playing a vital role in securing back-to-back Primeira Liga titles. His eye for goal and relentless physical presence have caught the attention of Europe’s top clubs, but it’s Arsenal who have emerged victorious in the race for his signature.
BBC Sport revealed earlier this month that Arsenal turned their attention to Gyokeres after hitting a roadblock in negotiations with RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko. Gyokeres quickly became the top priority for the Gunners, who have been seeking an elite centre-forward to bolster their attacking line.
Despite finishing second in the Premier League last season, Arsenal struggled at times in front of goal, scoring 17 fewer goals than title-winners Liverpool. Arteta has been clear in his desire to address this shortfall and believes Gyokeres’ signing could be the key to unlocking their full potential.
Gyokeres’ journey to the top has been anything but conventional. After showing promise in the Championship with Coventry City, where he netted 43 goals in 116 appearances and was named in the 2022-23 Championship Team of the Year, he earned a £20 million move to Sporting in the summer of 2023. Since then, he has developed into one of Europe’s most clinical finishers.
His remarkable goal-scoring return in Portugal — 97 goals in just 102 appearances — has made him one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe. His blend of strength, intelligent movement, and ruthless finishing has drawn comparisons to Premier League greats, and he will now have the chance to test himself at the highest level in England.
Gyokeres has also been a regular for Sweden since making his debut in 2019, scoring 15 goals in 26 appearances. His international experience adds further value to a player entering the prime of his career.
His arrival follows the recent signing of England winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea, as Arsenal continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the new campaign. Arteta is determined to build a team capable of challenging on multiple fronts and sees Gyokeres as a central piece in that puzzle.
If the deal is completed as expected, Gyokeres could link up with the Arsenal squad as early as next week, giving him the opportunity to integrate with his new teammates during the pre-season tour.
Arsenal fans will be eager to see whether Gyokeres can replicate his prolific Portuguese form in the Premier League. If he does, the Gunners could finally have the firepower needed to bring the title back to North London.
