In almost two months, there has been talk that Viktor Gyökeres will leave Lisbon and Sporting and soon enough, Arsenal seemed to be first in line of interested clubs.
However, the negotiations have taken time, Sporting has not been willing to sell their golden calf unless the transfer sum was the right one.
Now, he has signed a five-year contract, according to several media outlets, and the 27-year-old Swede returns to England where he has played for Brighton, Swansea, and Coventry.
"I started here and it feels like a very long time ago. I think I have improved a lot since then. Now I want to prove it for real", says Gyökeres.
"A constant threat"
Arsenal's sports director Andrea Berta says to the club's website:
"We are sure that Viktor will have a significant impact on the pitch and become important in the dressing room".
Coach Mikel Arteta adds:
"He has consistently shown outstanding play and his goal production speaks for itself. Viktor has so many qualities. He is a fast and powerful player in the attack, with incredible goal numbers at club and national team level. He has a clinical edge with a high chance frequency that leads to goals, and his intelligent movements in the penalty area make him a constant threat."
Gyökeres has scored 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting. He has also scored twelve national team goals in the last 17 matches for Sweden.
Conversations and meetings decided
The Swedish national team striker explains why it became Arsenal:
"I just felt that it was the right club for me. What I heard from Mikel and Andrea when I talked to them, and what I have seen in recent years, how they have played football. When I played against Arsenal last season, I could really feel that it was a very strong team and very difficult to play against", says Gyökeres.
"It made me choose Arsenal, and of course all the history the club has and the enormous fan base."
Gyökeres will get the jersey number 14.
Sporting has announced the transfer sum, which is 65 million euros plus bonuses of 10 million euros that can be activated in the future if Gyökeres and Arsenal achieve certain performances. The total deal is worth almost 840 million kronor.
Sporting confirms in its statement that they will not have any agent costs. Portuguese media writes that Gyökeres' agent Hasan Cetinkaya has chosen to waive a fee worth 10 percent of the transfer sum.
