Arsenal Secures Sporting Star Viktor Gyökeres in £63.6M Deal
Swede’s Arrival Signals Major Striker Reinforcement for Gunners
Arsenal has finally landed its long-sought striker, agreeing a substantial £55 million deal plus £8.6 million in add-ons for Sporting CP’s prolific scorer, Viktor Gyökeres.
Arteta and Berta Land Key Target
Following a prolonged transfer pursuit, manager **Mikel Arteta** and new sporting director **Andrea Berta** appear to have successfully secured the 27-year-old Swede. **Gyökeres** has reportedly already agreed personal terms on a five-year contract and is slated for his medical early next week, with plans to join the club’s pre-season tour of Asia being finalized.
Arsenal have agreed a deal in principle with Sporting for Viktor Gyökeres. Fee believed to be €70m (£58.7m) plus €10m (£8.4m) in add-ons. Personal terms are provisionally agreed. Medical early next week. https://t.co/uO33dYJcQo
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 16, 2025
Addressing Striking Shortcomings
The acquisition ends years of frustration for **Arteta** and the Arsenal fanbase, who have missed out on top striker targets repeatedly. The club has struggled to adequately replace the attacking output of **Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang** and **Alexandre Lacazette**, who departed over three years ago.
Gyökeres’ impressive record of 68 league goals in two seasons for Sporting, alongside 11 European strikes, offers significant optimism that Arsenal’s frontline can return to its previous formidable standards. In the 2023-24 season, **Gyökeres** averaged a goal every 77 minutes in the Portuguese league. (Record, 2024)
More Attacking Reinforcements Expected
The arrival of **Gyökeres** is not anticipated to be the sole attacking reinforcement this summer. Reports suggest a deal for Chelsea winger **Noni Madueke** is also nearing completion, pending a medical, while interest in **Eberechi Eze** and Rodrygo remains.
A Familiar Terrain for Gyökeres
This move will see **Gyökeres** return to English football. He previously spent three years with Brighton & Hove Albion, featuring on loan at Swansea City and Coventry City before making his move to Sporting permanent.
Deal Salvaged After Ultimatum
Just days prior to the agreement, Arsenal’s pursuit of **Gyökeres** faced a significant hurdle. Sporting president **Frederico Varandas** issued an ultimatum to the North London club, stating they must meet their valuation or the deal would collapse.
“We’re calm. Everything can be solved with the closure of the market, a heavy fine and an apology to the group. If they [Arsenal] don’t want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we’ll be very comfortable with that for the next three years. If the geniuses who are devising this strategy think that this puts pressure on me to make it easier for him to leave, not only are they completely wrong, but they are also making it more complicated for the player to leave. No one is above the interests of the club. Whoever they are.”
—Frederico Varandas, Sporting CP President
Ultimately, it was **Gyökeres’** agent, **Hasan Cetinkaya**, who brokered a resolution. The agent agreed to a reduced commission on the transfer fee, enabling Arsenal to structure a deal closer to Sporting’s original demands and ensuring the Portuguese club receives its desired financial package.
