The funny thing about football is the way in which some players can thrive in one environment and then struggle in another. The likes of Angel Di Maria, Jadon Sancho, and Diego Forlan all famously struggled in English football but looked like world-beaters elsewhere.
A modern example of this is Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres. In 2025, he is one of the game's deadliest goalscorers. As a matter of fact, he is fourth in the race for the European Golden Boot, having scored more goals than Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
However, fans may be surprised to learn that he spent a number of years underwhelming in English football. While his quality eventually shone through in the Championship with Coventry City, a prior loan spell at Swansea City did little to suggest he would go on to reach such incredible heights later down the lines.
Gyokeres Flops at Swansea
Didn't impress much at Brighton either
In January 2018, Gyokeres signed for Brighton & Hove Albion from IF Brommapojkarna in his native Sweden. The Seagulls are renowned for their talent-spotting but once getting him through the door, they failed to perhaps grasp the level of player they hand on their hands.
He scored 14 goals in 31 games for the U21s, but this was only enough to earn him a total of eight senior outings – in which he scored just once. Instead, he spent most of his time out on loan.
After one season at St Pauli, his second temporary spell away from the club came between 2020 October and 14 January 2021. He arrived at Swansea on what was planned to be a season-long loan but lasted just 12 games in what was a pretty dismal move, which yielded only one goal – scored in the FA Cup vs Stevenage.
Manager at the time Steve Cooper was kind about the player, but his comments upon his exit clearly alluded to some obvious difficulties. He said:
"I have to say he is a really good guy, and there is a good player in there. I think it was a loan that came a bit later than what everyone wanted. He had some bad luck picking up Covid on international duty too.
"He was happy here, but he wanted to play more football and we wish him well."
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Perhaps most damningly, one source connected to Swansea told ESPN that Gyokeres "looked lost" at times when playing for the Welsh club.
After returning to Brighton, he was immediately shipped out on loan to Coventry City for the remained of this season, and this is where his fortunes would change. However, his lack of game time at Swansea meant he was initially thrown into the U23s.
His manager at the time, Mark Robins, revealed how he quickly saw that the striker deserved senior minutes, saying: “I went to watch a 23s game when he played against Charlton and he was outstanding. He scored a goal (flicks his thumb) and that was it!
“From that point on he was in and then he did it into the games in the first team.
He would score 43 goals and provide 17 assists for the Championship club in 116 outings before joining Sporting CP in 2023.
Gyokeres Sets Europe on Fire After Sporting CP Transfer
Now outscoring Salah, Kane and Haaland
Gyokeres stats at Lisbon so far this season
In 2025, Gyokeres is one of the hottest players on the planet. His time in Portugal has propelled him from a Brighton reject and Swansea flop, into a genuine football superstar.
He has scored 83 goals and bagged 25 assists in 91 games for Sprting across all competitions, meaning on average he has been involved in a goal in every match he has played for the club. His prowess helped fire the Lisbon outfit to a league title last term and they are top of the Primeira Liga as things stand so far in 2024/25.
So far this season, Gyokeres has scored a whopping 40 goals in 41 games across all competitions. This is a better tally than the aforementioned Salah, Kane and Haaland.
Club Goals in 2024/25
Players
Gyokeres
Salah
Kane
Haaland
With form like that, it's little wonder the Sweden international – one of the best numbers 9s in the world right now – is constantly being linked with exciting moves. Manchester United are among the favourites to make a move for Gyokeres in the summer, with former Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim viewing him as a 'dream' signing.
The player himself is constantly quizzed about a move but has shown his professionalism with his attitude as he gets his head down and continues to focus on his performances for Sporting CP. Amid the Man Utd links, he said:
"Nobody has spoken to me. It's not something I think about or that is in my mind. Rumours, once more. My focus is on being here."
The 26-year-old has enjoyed an unusual ride to the top. Even at a young age, fellow Swede Dejan Kulusevski was viewed as the real star of the Brommapojkarna academy – but, as phrased by former club scout David Eklund, Gyokeres always 'scored goals'.
Stats via SofaScore and Transfermarkt – correct as of 21/03/25