Viktor Gyokeres has boarded a flight to London after Arsenal reportedly reached total agreement for the transfer of the Sweden star.
The Gunners had been in prolonged negotiations with Sporting Lisbon for the forward’s transfer, and are now believed to have agreed a deal, with personal terms not an issue.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas had confirmed that Gyokeres would face disciplinary action after going on strike to force a move. Gyokeres, 27, failed to report for the club’s pre-season training, despite Sporting having granted him an extended summer break until Saturday, July 12.
That patience now run out, with Varandas vowing to hand the in-demand striker a ‘hefty fine’. Now, though, he is set to finally get his move.
According to The Athletic, the in-demand frontman will move to the Emirates for an initial €63.5million (£54.8m) plus €10m (£8.7m) in add-ons.
Gyokeres is said to have been given permission to jet out to England to complete his medical after several rounds of negotiations finally resulted in a compromise this week, and his agency, HC Media, shared footage of him boarding a flight on Friday afternoon.
Mail Sport reported that he is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year contract. His medical is booked in for Saturday.
He has also reportedly been handed a shirt number steeped in Arsenal history: the famed No 14 famously worn by the club’s record goalscorer Thierry Henry.
An agreement in principle was struck earlier this week but recent talks focused on the exact make-up of the deal, including the inclusion of add-ons.
Gyokeres snubbed interest from Manchester United – and a reunion with Ruben Amorim – and was solely focused on sealing his switch to Arsenal, who swooped after he scored 54 goals in 52 matches for Sporting last season.
Mikel Arteta made the arrival of a new striker a priority after his side’s Premier League title challenge was derailed by long-term – and untimely – injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, leaving Arsenal without a recognised No 9 for much of the season.
Once again, the Gunners finished second behind champions Liverpool – a third consecutive campaign in which they were forced to settle for the runner-up spot.
Gyokeres first burst onto the scene at Coventry City after joining from Brighton in a deal worth around £1m. He then went on to move to Sporting for £17m in 2023.
There, he scored 97 goals and recorded 28 assists in his two seasons at the club, leading them to consecutive league titles and the Taca de Portugal last campaign.
Reports from Portugal in recent days claimed that United, now managed by Gyokeres’ former Sporting boss Amorim, had reignited their interest in the ace.
However, the manager’s treatment of former Red Devil and Gyokeres’ compatriot Victor Lindelof upset the striker, according to Portuguese outlet Record.
The two players share the same agent in Turkish businessman Hasan Cetinkaya, with Lindelof said to have maintained a desire to remain at Old Trafford had he been offered a new deal by the club. Fresh terms were not forthcoming, though.
Confirmation of the move is expected in the coming days.
