Arsenal finally confirms Gyökeres deal after late night breakthrough

Arsenal has officially reached an agreement with Sporting for the transfer of star striker Viktor Gyökeres in a deal valued at up to €73.5 million (£63.7m). The breakthrough came after persistent negotiations to resolve the thorny issue of the €10 million in add-ons, bringing an end to a protracted saga and Mikel Arteta’s determined hunt for a new No. 9.

The north London club, who are also poised to confirm the signing of central defender Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia for an initial €15 million, made the decisive move late on Tuesday. They submitted an updated offer to their Portuguese counterparts that satisfied Sporting regarding the structure of the performance-related bonuses. Sporting had consistently pushed for add-ons to be easily achievable, tied to Gyökeres's appearances, goals, and assists, as well as Champions League qualification. Arsenal, conversely, had initially proposed more challenging clauses, including one reportedly linked to Gyökeres winning the Ballon d'Or.

As negotiations intensified late last week, it's understood that Sporting deemed only €5 million of Arsenal's initial proposed bonuses as genuinely achievable, with the other €5 million less so. The resolution saw the two clubs find common ground, with Sporting now comfortable that the agreed bonuses are indeed within reach, allowing them to feel they effectively secured their desired financial package.

The intricate negotiations were largely handled by agents, with minimal direct club-to-club contact. Sporting had initially demanded an €80 million package (€70 million base fee plus €10 million in add-ons), falling short of Gyökeres's €100 million release clause. However, they ultimately achieved their target with a basic fee of €63.5 million, supplemented by agents agreeing to waive their 10% cut of that fee, which saved Sporting €6.35 million.

Positions on both sides had been entrenched for an extended period. Gyökeres was determined to force the move to Arsenal, reportedly ignoring interest from other clubs, while Sporting held firm on their valuation. The transfer was not without conflict, as Gyökeres had notably refused to report back for pre-season training with Sporting. However, Arteta can now finally look forward to integrating his coveted striker into the squad.

This summer was always anticipated to be pivotal for Arsenal, and the acquisition of Gyökeres marks the latest significant step in their spending spree. Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have already overseen the arrivals of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, and Noni Madueke, amounting to a combined expenditure of £118.5 million before the Gyökeres deal.

In related news, Mosquera has already traveled to Singapore to link up with the squad on their pre-season tour. The 21-year-old, who represented Spain at this summer’s European Under-21 Championship, has signed a five-year contract with an option for a further year.

Gyökeres's impact at Sporting was nothing short of sensational, as he netted an astounding 97 goals in just 102 appearances. Having joined from Coventry for £20.5 million in the summer of 2023, the 27-year-old was instrumental in guiding Sporting to the league title in both of his seasons with them, additionally securing the Portuguese Cup in his most recent campaign.