Arsenal’s Pursuit of Gyokeres Gathers Pace
Arsenal are deep in negotiations for Victor Gyokeres, the Swedish striker whose path to elite-level football has taken the scenic route through Brighton’s shadows, the Championship grind, and the Portuguese top flight. Now, after 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP, his name is spoken alongside the Premier League’s best.
Rio Ferdinand, however, remains unconvinced. Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former Manchester United defender said: “I don’t think he’s the guy. I’ve watched him probably three times really, really closely. And three times I’ve gone: ‘He ain’t getting that opportunity in the Prem.’”
Arsenal, clearly, see things differently. With talks progressing and a reported £70 million fee being discussed, Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta appear determined to land a striker who scored 54 goals in 52 appearances last season, including a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City.
Photo IMAGO
From Championship Loans to Lisbon Stardom
Gyokeres’ journey has been anything but predictable. After making just eight appearances for Brighton and scoring once, he found his feet in the Championship, first with Swansea, then Coventry. A permanent switch to Coventry yielded 38 goals in 91 league appearances, prompting Sporting to spend £20.5 million in 2023.
Since arriving in Portugal, Gyokeres has gone from rough diamond to refined finisher. He netted 39 times in the Primeira Liga in 2024–25 and added six more in Europe. He now features prominently for Sweden alongside Premier League stars Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski, with nine goals in six Nations League matches.
“He was never a superstar like Dejan Kulusevski,” said David Eklund, academy scout at his first club Brommapojkarna, in an interview with BBC Sport. “But he scored goals. That’s it.”
It’s a description that fits. Gyokeres is physical, purposeful, and often relentless in his pressing and direct running. He also provides assists, 26 during his time at Sporting, and thrives in open transitions.
Work Ethic, Willpower and Wonder Goals
Those who worked with him earlier in his career describe a headstrong but committed professional. Gustav Sandberg Magnusson, a former teammate, recalled: “There was one training session I was screaming at him: ‘Viktor, pass the ball. Pass.’ And he didn’t [look at] me. I was so frustrated.”
Former Coventry coach Dennis Lawrence added, “I had to laugh when I saw he scored a free-kick for Sporting. At Coventry, he would try free-kicks [in training] and I would say: ‘No, you’re not on free-kicks, Viktor.’ But his mentality is, ‘no, I know I can do this’.”
That mindset, as much as his scoring record, explains why Arsenal are circling. Arteta wants players who believe in their ability and refuse to be boxed in. Gyokeres, who once wept after losing as a child and now graces the cover of Vogue Scandinavia, fits the modern mould; talented, hungry and media-savvy.
Photo: IMAGO
Questions Remain Over Premier League Readiness
Still, there are doubts. Much of Gyokeres’ output has come in Portugal, a league that lacks the intensity and defensive quality of England. Thirty-five percent of his goals last season came from the penalty spot, and he is yet to play in any of Europe’s top five leagues.
Ferdinand voiced the question many have asked quietly: “Is there enough – after he’s physically matched – to get him a goal?”
At 27, Gyokeres will arrive at a stage of his career where improvement may come in smaller increments. Yet, few strikers offer his blend of aggression, running power and technical skill. Arsenal are betting that these traits will translate, even if his numbers dip.