Arsenal Announce Signing Of Viktor Gyökeres

Arsenal have officially announced the signing of Sweden international Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon in a blockbuster deal worth €73 million.

Viktor Gyökeres, 27, arrives on a five-year contract after weeks of negotiations, with the total package including €10 million in performance-based add-ons.

Gyökeres becomes the latest addition to Mikel Arteta’s ambitious rebuild, taking the Gunners’ summer spending to around £204 million.

Arsenal fans had been clamouring for a marquee striker signing, especially after talks for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko collapsed earlier this month.

Arsenal’s Sporting Director Andrea Berta hailed the signing as a major statement. “We are so pleased with the excellent deal we have completed to bring Viktor Gyökeres to the club,” he said.

“Viktor is an exceptional talent and has consistently demonstrated he has the qualities and winning mentality required of a top-level centre-forward. His physicality, intelligence and work ethic make him a perfect fit for our vision.”

Arteta was equally enthusiastic about his new frontman: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Viktor Gyökeres to the club. The consistency he has shown in his performances and availability has been outstanding, and his goal contributions speak for themselves.

“Viktor has so many qualities. He is a powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels. He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat.”

Gyökeres lands in North London with a dazzling record from his time in Portugal. In just two seasons with Sporting, he bagged 97 goals in 102 appearances, leading the club to consecutive Primeira Liga titles and a national cup.

He was also the league’s top scorer in both campaigns. His recent international form is just as impressive, having netted 12 times in his last 17 outings for Sweden.

Raised in Stockholm, Gyökeres came through the ranks at IF Brommapojkarna before earning a move to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018.

After loan spells at Swansea, St. Pauli, and Coventry City, he joined the Sky Blues permanently in 2021 and played a pivotal role in their run to the Championship Play-Off final in 2023.

Despite being linked with Manchester United earlier in the window, Gyökeres’ future took a twist when he failed to report back for Sporting’s pre-season earlier this month.

The club’s president, Frederico Varandas, had vowed disciplinary action, but the writing was already on the wall.

Now, the prolific forward begins a new chapter in North London, inheriting Arsenal’s iconic No. 14 shirt once worn by Thierry Henry and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The striker has already joined up with the squad for their pre-season tour in Asia. His move remains subject to the usual regulatory processes, but all signs point to Gyökeres being available for selection soon.