Christos Tzolis has revealed he cut short his summer holiday to ensure he was ready for a move to Arsenal after learning the club were interested in signing him.
Fresh from helping Club Brugge secure their 20th league title, the Greece international allowed himself a well-earned break, but not for long. Aware that a move to north London was gathering pace, he kept up his fitness work throughout the summer so he would be ready to hit the ground running if the transfer went through.
That move, reportedly worth €40 million, [was confirmed today](https://arseblog.news/2026/07/confirmed-arsenal-sign-christos-tzolis-from-club-brugge/), with the 24-year-old now focused on settling quickly and making an immediate impact at the Emirates.
“I had a good summer,” he told [Arsenal.com](https://www.arsenal.com/news/tzolis-im-always-hungry-to-score-agloK6x6ueIg). “I had 27 days of holidays, not full holidays – I worked also to be ready because, like I told you, I heard the rumours, so I said I need to be ready! I need to be in good shape and fit. So I worked hard also during the summer. Then I did preparation already with Brugge for two weeks, so I’m quite fit to start living here.”
Tzolis returns to England having previously spent three seasons on the books at Norwich City. His spell at Carrow Road never really got going, yielding just 30 appearances; however, loan moves to FC Twente and Fortuna Dusseldorf helped revive his career.
He returned to the continent permanently in 2024, flourished at Club Brugge and now arrives at Arsenal a far more complete player than the one who first crossed the Channel five years ago.
That earlier experience has also left him with few illusions about the challenge that awaits.
“I can say more or less that I know the level of the Premier League. I know it’s the best league in the world,” he reflected.
“Of course it’s different if you play for Norwich or Arsenal, I think you have the ball more as a player of Arsenal. So we attack more the other teams. It’s very physical, the league and the quality is very high, so I’m prepared for that.
“Also in the Champions League it’s quite high, so I believe every game is like a Champions League game here in Premier League.”
The winger also touched on how the setbacks of his first spell in England shaped him as a player, insisting the difficult moments ultimately proved just as valuable as the successful ones.
“Football is not always high moments, good moments for your career; you can also experience bad moments, and I only learn good things about that.
“How to work harder, also in the mind, it’s very important. It’s very important as a football player to be strong in the mind, and to have the right mentality to stand up and be a better player, and that was what I was working for. I think it was a good experience for me, it made me stronger and a better player.
“I had two loans, one at Twente and then I had one at Fortuna Dusseldorf, a very, very good season for me, for the team, and then I grew my confidence, and since then I’ve played a high level.”
Joining the reigning Premier League champions, Tzolis now has his heart set on helping the club win more silverware.
“My targets are to win titles, of course. I think for everybody the target is there, as many as possible. And to have as much as possible game time with the team, then the rest will come, I’m sure about that.
“For me the most important is to settle well in the team, have a good feeling, play as much as possible and then we’ll be very good, I believe.
“I’m very proud to be part of this amazing team. I’m looking forward to meeting everybody on the pitch, at the stadium, and to score my first goal at the Emirates.”
Essentially a like-for-like replacement for Leandro Trossard, Tzolis has big boots to fill. We look forward to seeing what he can do in red and white.