Arsenal sign Viktor Gyokeres in £64m deal from Sporting Lisbon

Arsenal have confirmed the high-profile signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon, in a deal worth up to £64 million including performance-based add-ons.

The 27-year-old international joins on a five-year contract after a prolific 2023/24 season, during which he scored 39 goals and led Sporting to the Portuguese league title. He also made headlines by netting a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City.

Gyökeres becomes Mikel Arteta’s sixth summer signing, following:

Cristhian Mosquera (defender, £13m)

Martin Zubimendi (midfielder, £60m)

Kepa Arrizabalaga (goalkeeper, £5m)

Christian Nørgaard (midfielder, £10m)

Noni Madueke (forward, £48.5m)

The striker’s arrival pushes Arsenal’s summer transfer outlay to around £200 million as they continue to bolster the squad ahead of the new season.

Gyökeres will join up with his new teammates during the club’s pre-season tour in Singapore and Hong Kong, where Arsenal will face Newcastle on Sunday and Tottenham on July 31.

Arsenal fans will hope Gyökeres is the long-awaited solution to their goal-scoring problems. Injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz left the Gunners without a recognised striker during the closing stages of last season.

Arteta will be banking on the Swede to bring firepower to a side that has finished second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons, as Arsenal look to end a 20-year title drought.

Gyökeres previously played in England with Brighton, Swansea, and Coventry, before moving to Sporting in 2023 for £20.5m. He scored 97 goals in 102 matches for the Portuguese giants.

The club also continues to invest in youth, with Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly signing new contracts, while a long-term extension for Ethan Nwaneri is reportedly nearing completion.

Arsenal announced the signing on social media with a simple message:
“This is where you need to be. Viktor Gyökeres is a Gunner.”