Arsenal have completed the signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP for £63.5 million (€73.5m). The deal includes a guaranteed £55 million fee and up to £8.7 million in performance-based bonuses.
Gyokeres, 27, has signed a five-year contract and will wear Arsenal’s famous No. 14 shirt, once worn by club legend Thierry Henry.
The striker joins Arsenal after a stunning run in Portugal, where he scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, including 39 goals in the 2024-25 Primeira Liga season. He was the league’s top scorer for two straight years and helped Sporting win two league titles and a Portuguese Cup.
His standout form last season—54 goals and 13 assists in 52 matches—made him one of the most wanted strikers in Europe.
The transfer took time to finalize due to talks over the structure of bonus payments. Sporting wanted simple performance targets, while Arsenal initially proposed harder-to-reach conditions. The deal moved forward after Gyokeres’ agent dropped a €6.35m commission, and the player skipped training to push the move, which earned him a €333,000 fine.
Gyokeres has already joined Arsenal’s pre-season tour in Singapore and trained with the squad ahead of friendlies against Newcastle and Tottenham.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Gyokeres for his “consistency” and “clinical edge”, while sporting director Andrea Berta called him a “physical and mental asset” who fits the team’s plans.
Arsenal hope Gyokeres can fill the gap left by injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus last season. They finished second in the league, 10 points behind Liverpool, and scored 17 fewer goals.
With his strength, movement, and goal-scoring ability, Gyokeres is expected to add power to Arsenal’s attack. However, some analysts are watching to see how well he adjusts to the Premier League’s pace and Arsenal’s pass-focused style.
The signing is part of a major summer rebuild. Arsenal have already spent over £200 million, bringing in Martin Zubimendi (£51m), Noni Madueke (£52m), Christian Norgaard (£15m), and Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5m). A move for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera (£13m) is also nearing completion.
Fan reactions on social media have been largely positive, with many excited by Gyokeres’ record and potential. Some remain cautious, wondering how his success in Portugal will translate to England.
