Arsenal - Fabrizio Romano - Viktor Gyokeres
Image credit: Getty Images
Jakub Kiwior has broken his silence on the uncertainty surrounding his Arsenal future this summer, admitting the chaotic final days before his loan move to Porto took an emotional toll.
The 25-year-old defender joined the Portuguese giants on transfer deadline day in a deal structured as a season-long loan with an obligation to buy. Speaking to Portuguese outletO Jogo, Kiwior revealed how confusion at the Emirates left him unsure of when his exit would actually happen.
“It was difficult to say goodbye to Arsenal because I didn’t know when it would actually happen,” Kiwior said. “If I had known the exact day in advance, I would have had time to prepare. In my last three days there, I didn’t know which would actually be my last.”
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Kiwior, who arrived from Spezia in January 2023 for £20 million, made 68 appearances for the Gunners across all competitions. While praised for his versatility at both centre-back and left-back, he found himself behind William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order. The summer arrivals of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié further limited his prospects, paving the way for a move to Porto.
Jakub Kiwior - FC Porto
Jakub Kiwior (Image credit: Getty Images)
The transfer, worth up to €27 million (£23.4m), includes a €2m loan fee, a €17m obligation to buy, and up to €5m in performance-related add-ons. Arsenal also negotiated a sell-on clause to secure future profits.
Kiwior described the surreal atmosphere at London Colney after Fabrizio Romano announced his exit on social media. “I was starting training… the players looked at it on their phones and asked me why I had put my kit on when the deal was already closed,” he recalled.
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The Poland international admitted the farewell was “tough,” initially refusing to say goodbye to teammates because of the uncertainty. Once the move was finalised, he was given a heartfelt send-off by Arteta and the squad. “Not everyone I wanted to say goodbye to was there, so I still had to make a few phone calls,” he said.
For Arsenal, Kiwior’s departure was part of sporting director Andrea Berta’s strategy to balance finances after a £255m summer spending spree. The deal also hinged on the club finalising Hincapié’s arrival from Bayer Leverkusen on deadline day, giving Arteta another defensive option.
Despite the bittersweet farewell, Kiwior expressed gratitude for his time at the Emirates and is now focused on establishing himself as a key figure at Porto.
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