Arsenal are on the brink of completing another major summer signing, with Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres set to join the Gunners after protracted negotiations over the structure of the deal.
According to multiple reports, a £63.5 million agreement was nearly finalised last week, with Arsenal keen to complete the transfer before their pre-season tour of Asia begins on Sunday.
However, the move was slightly delayed due to ongoing discussions between the two clubs over performance-related add-ons.
Despite the delay, Gyökeres has already agreed personal terms and is expected to sign a five-year contract with the North London club as verbal agreement now in place between Arsenal and Sporting CP after Arsenal’s last bid of €63.5m plus €10m was accepted with Gyokores’s agent reducing his commission according to the transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
A Sought-After Goal Machine
The 27-year-old Sweden international has been one of the most coveted forwards in the summer transfer window following a phenomenal season in Portugal. Gyökeres scored 54 goals in just 52 appearances for Sporting last season, helping the Lisbon giants secure back-to-back Primeira Liga titles.
His form has attracted widespread attention, and Arsenal turned their focus to him after talks with RB Leipzig over Benjamin Šeško stalled earlier in the window.
Gyökeres’ goal-scoring pedigree is not limited to Portugal. During his time in England with Coventry City, he netted 43 goals in 116 games and was named in the Championship Team of the Season for 2022/23 after leading Coventry to the play-off final.
That summer, he made the move to Sporting in a £20 million deal, and has since taken his game to an elite level, with 97 goals in 102 matches across all competitions in two seasons.
What Gyökeres Brings to Arsenal
While critics may point to the Portuguese top flight being a step below the Premier League, Gyökeres’ numbers stand out.
His shot conversion rate of 28.4% is comparable to Erling Haaland’s 29.2% during the Norwegian’s record-breaking Premier League campaign in 2022/23.
But Gyökeres offers much more than just goals.
Known for his intelligent off-the-ball movement, powerful running, and relentless pressing, the Swedish striker combines technical ability with physicality—attributes that align well with Mikel Arteta’s high-intensity system.
He also contributes creatively, averaging 2.15 chances created per 90 minutes, with a goal involvement rate of 1.42 per game, according to Opta.
He has also impressed on the international stage, earning 26 caps for Sweden and scoring 15 goals since his debut in 2019.
Arteta’s Long-Awaited Striker Signing
The pursuit of a clinical centre-forward has been a top priority for Arteta, especially after Arsenal finished 10 points behind champions Liverpool last season, scoring 17 fewer goals in the league.
While the recent addition of England winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea has added depth out wide, the Gunners have lacked a dominant presence through the middle.
Should the deal for Gyökeres be finalised in the coming days, Arsenal will finally land the elite striker Arteta has long craved—one capable of transforming their attack and challenging for major honours both domestically and in Europe.