As Arsenal gear up for their pre-season tour in Asia, they’re still waiting to finalize a major move that’s been weeks in the making.
Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres has been at the center of transfer talks between the Gunners and Sporting Lisbon—but things are dragging out longer than expected.
Pre-Season Plans Disrupted by Transfer Delays
Arsenal had been hopeful that Gyokeres would be joining the team for their trip across Asia, which kicks off next Wednesday.
The idea was to wrap things up in time for the 27-year-old forward to be part of the squad’s preparations.
But now, it looks like that won’t be happening.
According to reports from Portuguese outlet A Bola, Gyokeres is still in Sweden and won’t be flying out with the Arsenal squad when they depart from London this Saturday.
That means fans will have to wait a little longer to see him in red and white.
Deal Nearing Completion—But Not Quite There
Sources say that Arsenal and Sporting are very close to reaching an agreement: a £55 million upfront fee, with another £7.4 million in performance-based add-ons.
Gyokeres has already agreed to a five-year contract, so personal terms aren’t the problem.
The delay reportedly comes down to the finer details.
While the two clubs are mostly aligned on the total cost, they’re still hashing out how and when the payments will be made.
Sporting want a larger chunk of the fee paid up front, while Arsenal prefer to spread the cost.
Solidarity Payments and Training Fees Cause Extra Friction
And it’s not just the big money causing the hold-up.
Talks have also hit a snag over smaller, technical points—like solidarity contributions and training compensation.
These may sound minor, but they’re crucial elements in any international transfer, especially for a player who’s spent time in multiple countries and clubs.
Arsenal’s Asia Tour Kicks Off Without New No. 9
With time running out, Arsenal are set to start their Asia tour without Gyokeres.
The Gunners will play AC Milan and Newcastle in Singapore before heading to Hong Kong for a North London derby against Tottenham.
If the transfer gets over the line soon, Gyokeres could still make his Arsenal debut on August 6, when the team hosts Villarreal in their first post-tour friendly.
They’ll then wrap up their pre-season campaign against Athletic Club before opening their Premier League season with a tough away match at Manchester United.
Gyokeres’s Scorching Form Has Arsenal Fans Excited
It’s easy to see why Arsenal are pushing hard to sign him.
Gyokeres has been on fire for Sporting over the past two seasons, scoring an incredible 97 goals in just 102 appearances.
That includes 54 goals across all competitions last year alone—an eye-watering stat for any top European forward.
His time in Portugal also earned him two league titles and a Portuguese Cup.
Not bad for a player who just a few years ago was struggling to find his feet in England.
From Brighton Benchwarmer to Europe’s Most Wanted
Before his breakout in Portugal, Gyokeres spent a frustrating spell at Brighton, where he never got a real shot at the first team.
He later rebuilt his career at Coventry City, where he scored 43 goals over two-and-a-half seasons before earning his £20 million move to Sporting in 2023.
Looking back on his time in England, Gyokeres hasn’t forgotten how things played out—and he’s made it clear that returning to the Premier League is personal.
“I spent several years there without being able to play a single match,” he said in an earlier interview.
“So, of course, it’s something I would like to do. It would be a great revenge.”
Arsenal Hope Gyokeres Can Be the Missing Piece
For Mikel Arteta, the hope is that Gyokeres can be the top-class centre forward Arsenal have been missing.
With title ambitions high and the club desperate to end a 22-year Premier League drought, adding a reliable goal-scorer could be a game-changer.
Now it’s just a matter of crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s—because both the player and the fans are ready.