‘Medical Arranged’ – David Ornstein confirms £54m Arsenal signing | OneFootball

Arsenal Secure Gyokeres Deal as No 9 Solution Nears Arrival

Gyokeres transfer agreed after final details resolved

Arsenal have reached a full agreement with Sporting CP for striker Viktor Gyokeres, with the Sweden international expected to complete his medical this weekend. As reported by David Ornstein in The Athletic, the Gunners will pay an initial €63.5 million (£54.8m) plus a further €10 million in add-ons, ending a prolonged pursuit that dates back to early summer.

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Gyokeres, who will take the iconic No 14 shirt at Arsenal, was determined to join Mikel Arteta’s side, reportedly ignoring late interest from other clubs and pushing for the move. According to the report, “the Swede’s agent also waived his commission to help the switch,” underlining the forward’s commitment to the deal.

Centre-forward priority addressed after title near-miss

After another near-miss in the Premier League, finishing ten points behind Liverpool and lacking firepower for much of the season, Arsenal have made a decisive move to fix their most pressing issue. With Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both missing time through injury, the Gunners often lacked a focal point in attack.

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Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals in 52 appearances for Sporting last season, brings precisely that. His blend of physicality, movement and relentless output made him one of Europe’s most in-demand forwards. The 27-year-old also helped Sporting secure back-to-back league titles and the Taca de Portugal.

Sporting journey caps remarkable rise

Gyokeres’ journey has not followed a conventional arc. After being allowed to leave Brighton for around £1 million in 2021, he found his feet at Coventry City before earning a £17 million move to Portugal. His rise from Championship forward to elite European striker has been swift, but not without grit.

Photo IMAGO

He now signs a five-year deal with Arsenal, stepping into the most demanding phase of his career.

Squad overhaul continues under Berta

Gyokeres is the latest arrival in a busy window for new sporting director Andrea Berta. Arsenal have already added Zubimendi, Norgaard, Arrizabalaga, Madueke and Mosquera, aiming to sharpen depth across the pitch.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Arsenal fans, this is the moment they have been waiting for. Not just because a striker has finally arrived, but because it is this striker. Viktor Gyokeres is not just another forward signing, he is a statement. A declaration that the club understands the need to evolve and contend, not just compete.

Gyokeres’ numbers are absurd. Over 50 goals in a single season, regardless of league, signals elite-level efficiency. But beyond the stats, it is his style that fits the Arteta blueprint. He presses from the front, works the channels, creates as well and finishes. He is a modern No 9, and finally gives Arsenal the central presence they lacked when it mattered most.

It matters too that he wanted this move. No games, no posturing, no auction. Just quiet determination. That is the kind of personality Arsenal fans will connect with, and his decision to wear the No 14 shirt will raise expectations further.

There are, of course, pressures. The fee is significant, and the Premier League is an entirely different landscape. But Gyokeres feels built for it, and Arsenal’s structure seems ready to support him.