Arsenal have officially announced the signing of Swedish international striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon. The 27-year-old joins the Gunners on a long-term contract, bolstering their attacking options. The transfer fee is reported to be £55 million (€63 million) guaranteed, with a further £8.7 million (€10 million) in potential add-ons.
Gyokeres arrives at the Emirates Stadium after a sensational spell in Portugal, where he scored an impressive 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting across two seasons. His contributions were instrumental in Sporting's back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and a national cup victory. He also topped the league's scoring charts in both campaigns. In the 2024-25 season, Gyokeres found the net 54 times in 52 appearances across all competitions, outshining stars like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, expressed his delight at securing Gyokeres's signature. "We're absolutely delighted to welcome Viktor Gyökeres to the club," Arteta said. "The consistency he has shown in his performances and availability have been outstanding, and his goal contributions speak for themselves." He further added, "Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and 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."
Sporting Director Andrea Berta also commented on the transfer, stating, "We are so pleased with the excellent deal we have completed to bring Viktor Gyökeres to the club." He highlighted Gyokeres's exceptional talent, winning mentality, physicality, intelligence, and work ethic as qualities that make him a perfect fit for Arsenal's vision. Berta is confident that Gyokeres will have a major impact on the pitch and become an important figure in the dressing room.
Gyokeres will wear the number 14 shirt for Arsenal, famously worn by Thierry Henry. He is expected to join the squad immediately on their pre-season tour in Asia. Arsenal's first pre-season match is against Newcastle United on July 27, followed by a match against Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong on July 31. Gyokeres could make his Premier League debut against Manchester United on August 17.
Prior to his successful spell at Sporting, Gyokeres had a brief stint in England with Brighton & Hove Albion, after developing through the youth academy at IF Brommapojkarna. He also had loan spells at Swansea City, St. Pauli, and Coventry City. He moved permanently to Coventry in 2021, where he scored 40 goals in 97 appearances, helping them reach the Championship Play-Off final in 2023.
The signing of Gyokeres marks the end of Arsenal's search for a prolific goalscorer. His arrival is expected to provide a significant boost to Arsenal's attacking prowess.
