Hamburg sporting director reveals how he landed two Arsenal players

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·02 de setembro de 2025

Hamburg sporting director reveals how he landed two Arsenal players

Arsenal completed the sale of Albert Sambi Lokonga to Hamburg in the final days of the transfer window, in a move that attracted relatively little attention. The Gunners had been concerned about retaining the Belgian midfielder, whose role in the squad was considered surplus to requirements. The agreement with the Bundesliga side allowed Arsenal to resolve the situation efficiently, while also creating space for other players.

Fabio Vieira loaned to Hamburg

Following Lokonga’s departure, Arsenal faced a similar challenge with Fabio Vieira. Despite a strong loan spell at FC Porto last season, there was little interest in signing him permanently, leaving the Gunners in need of a solution. Hamburg stepped in once again, this time arranging a loan deal for the Portuguese midfielder. Vieira accepted the move, recognising that opportunities for first-team appearances at Arsenal would likely be limited if he remained.

Vídeos OneFootball

Hamburg sporting director Claus Costa provided insight into how both deals were concluded. Speaking via Sports Bild, he explained, “Of course, you can’t let yourself get carried away too soon. In the end, good timing is important. We try to trust in our own strengths and convictions. They weren’t in our core target market. We still had them on our list. With Sambi, we could have assumed for a while that a door might open. With Fabio, we wouldn’t have had a chance at the beginning. Over the course of the transfer window, and especially in the last few days, it became more concrete that there might be a possibility. It became concrete shortly before the end, and we were able to strike.”

Lokonga (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Strategic departures

The final arrangements allowed Arsenal to offload two players who were not part of the club’s immediate plans. By facilitating moves for both Lokonga and Vieira, the Gunners were able to manage squad size and maintain flexibility for the remainder of the season. The timing of the agreements ensured that the club could finalise transfers without undue disruption, while also providing the players with opportunities to continue their development elsewhere.

For both Lokonga and Vieira, Hamburg represents a platform to secure regular playing time and demonstrate their abilities at a high level. Meanwhile, Arsenal can focus on integrating their key players and pursuing their objectives in the Premier League and European competitions, secure in the knowledge that squad balance has been maintained effectively.

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