Viktor Gyökeres’ long-anticipated move to Arsenal appears to be entering its final stages after a removal van was seen outside his residence in Lisbon on Thursday morning. The sighting has only intensified speculation that the Swedish striker’s transfer from Sporting CP to the Premier League is all but complete.
The 27-year-old frontman has been Arsenal’s top striker target throughout the summer, with Mikel Arteta personally driving the club’s efforts to bring in a physical, goalscoring number nine. Gyökeres fits the profile perfectly, and talks between the two clubs have been progressing over recent weeks. While the final details regarding add-ons and agent fees are still being discussed, a breakthrough is believed to be close.
The removal van outside Gyökeres’ Lisbon property is the strongest sign yet that the player is preparing for life in north London. Witnesses reported that several personal items were being packed into the truck, while a blacked-out car was parked nearby — potentially to transport the player to the airport. The visual confirmation has caused a stir among both Sporting and Arsenal fans, many of whom have taken to social media to express excitement and anticipation.
This latest development follows numerous reports that Gyökeres has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal and that the two clubs are in advanced stages of finalising the transfer. The deal is expected to cost Arsenal a guaranteed €63.5 million, with additional bonuses pushing the total value to around €73.5 million (£68m). Gyökeres’ agent has reportedly waived part of his usual commission to help push the move through — another indication of the player’s strong desire to join the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta is said to be eager to integrate the striker as early as possible into his pre-season plans. Arsenal are set to fly out for their pre-season tour in Asia later this month, and there is a growing belief that Gyökeres will be on the plane, provided the medical and final paperwork are completed in time.
Gyökeres has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past two seasons. After impressing at Coventry City in the Championship, he took the Primeira Liga by storm last year, scoring 29 goals and registering 11 assists in all competitions for Sporting. His powerful running, clinical finishing, and relentless work rate have made him one of Europe’s most coveted strikers.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has been publicly firm on the player’s valuation, insisting they would not be bullied into a cut-price sale. But with Gyökeres pushing for the move and Arsenal meeting the club’s financial expectations, an agreement now appears inevitable.
As the moving van rolls away from his Lisbon home, it’s only a matter of time before Viktor Gyökeres is pictured in Arsenal colours. For Gunners fans, the sight of boxes being loaded is more than a domestic chore — it’s the final sign that their marquee striker signing is coming home to the Emirates.
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