Arsenal will reportedly agreed a fee with Sporting for Viktor Gyokeres, with reports in Portugal confirming the striker is expected to leave Alvalade after the Portuguese Cup final.
A final farewell has already been pencilled in for the Estádio Nacional, and his move to the Premier League will follow swiftly.
Front page of the Portuguese sports newspaper O Jogo, dated Monday 19 May 2025. The main image is a dramatic, mid-action photo of Viktor Gyökeres, shirtless and flexing his arms across his chest in celebration, appearing to shout with intensity. The headline in large, bold letters reads: "FORÇA GYOKERES", meaning "Strength, Gyökeres" or "Go Gyökeres". A yellow circle on the right reads: "Sueco a caminho do Arsenal por 70 M€", which translates to "Swede on his way to Arsenal for €70 million". Another green box above it says: "Rosto do bicampeonato deixa a sua marca e já são muitas as saudades, mesmo sem o adeus confirmado", meaning "Face of the championship leaves his mark and is already missed, even without confirmed farewell". The rest of the page includes smaller headlines on other clubs like FC Porto, Benfica, Braga, and V. Guimarães, and a motorsport photo in the top-right corner with the headline "Ogier sem limites" ("Ogier without limits"). The visual emphasis is clearly on Gyökeres and his anticipated move to Arsenal.
Front page of the Portuguese sports newspaper O Jogo, dated Monday 19 May 2025
Gyokeres, who scored 53 goals in 51 games for Sporting this season, has been the defining figure in the club’s back-to-back league titles. His sale is expected to bring in around €70 million, a price below his €100m release clause but one that had been privately pre-agreed last summer if a suitable offer arrived this year.
Portuguese newspaper Diário de Notícias reports that Sporting president Frederico Varandas is ready to accept Arsenal’s bid and has no interest in dragging out negotiations. The 26-year-old is expected to sign a long-term deal in north London, with a salary worth just over €8 million a season.
Sporting have already begun planning reinvestments, aware of the scale of interest in several of their players. Gonçalo Inácio, Ousmane Diomande and Morten Hjulmand could all follow Gyokeres out the door if significant offers are made.
Diomande has also been linked with Arsenal.
LISBON, PORTUGAL: Erling Haaland of Manchester City is tackled by Ousmane Diomande of Sporting CP during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Manchester City at Estadio Jose Alvalade on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
According to O Jogo, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has approved the move, and the club had previously tracked the forward during his time at Coventry City, but were outpaced by Sporting, who signed him for just €20 million in July 2023. That seems unlikely. €20m to Arsenal means a lot less than €20m to Sporting.
Regardless, Gyokeres stayed at Sporting for a second season following assurances from the club’s leadership that he would be allowed to leave in 2025 if he remained committed and performed. That promise is now being honoured.
Sporting’s last match of the season will also likely mark Gyokeres’ final appearance. They face Benfica in the Taça de Portugal final on 25 May, with the chance of completing a domestic double for the first time since 2002.
He leaves having become a cult hero in Lisbon, winning the league golden boot twice and helping restore Sporting’s dominance in Portugal’s top flight. Arsenal will hope he brings that same clinical edge to the Emirates.
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