Jakub Kiwior’s former manager, Pavol Stano, backs his decision to leave Arsenal to join FC Porto on a season-long loan.
Arsenal’s former versatile defender, Jakub Kiwior, joined FC Porto on transfer deadline day in search of a more prominent role. While it is a season-long loan deal, there is an obligation to buy, which depends on certain set conditions.
Kiwior made a name for himself at Spezia Calcio, and on the back of his impressive rise, he joined Arsenal at the start of 2023. Despite his massive potential, he has not been able to establish himself as a key figure in their team.
The Pole has been more of a rotational option for Mikel Arteta over the years, but with the North London club making a few additions at the back, the 25-year-old was unlikely to get enough game time going forward.
With the Gunners signing Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, they decided to sanction the departure of Jakub Kiwior. Since the Polish international was also keen on playing week in and week out, he decided to make a move away.
Pavol Stano on Kiwior’s move to FC Porto
FC Porto came forward and struck a deal with Arsenal to sign the versatile defender on a temporary basis. Jakub Kiwior’s decision to join the Portuguese outfit has impressed his former manager, Pavol Stano.
While speaking about Kiwior’s move to Porto, the Slovakian manager said via SportWitness: “His main goal is to play more, to be more present on the pitch. FC Porto seems like the right choice for Kiwior. It will be a safe transition for someone who never needs to adapt or recover. His mental strength is always there. As I played in the Champions League against FC Porto, I know that Kiwior will love the club, the stadium and the city.”
Kiwior has previously had a spell in Slovakia with MSK Zilina. While he was initially a part of their reserve team, he was promoted to their first team a year later by Stano. The Slovakian manager had a significant impact on his career, and he is delighted to see the 25-year-old join Porto in order to revive his career.
Stano believes Kiwior will fall in love with the city and that the move will help him get back to his best as he will be playing regular first-team football. His ability to feature as a central defender as well as out wide on the left flank could come in handy for the Portuguese giants. This move could actually benefit both parties significantly.