Arsenal’s summer transfer business is not finished just yet as Mikel Arteta weighs up bringing in a new defender – and letting one go.
The final days of the summer transfer window are now upon us, and Arsenal can be pleased with their business.
Arsenal snapped up Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace in recent days, securing the playmaker’s signature ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs were closing in on Eze, but saw Arsenal swoop in and secure the deal at the last minute.
Eze joins Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres in signing for Arsenal this summer.
There could be more business to come, as Arsenal want to sign defender Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen before next week’s deadline.
Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal runs with the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Kai Tak Sports Park on July 31, 2025
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Jakub Kiwior to Porto delayed by Arsenal
Hincapie would arrive as a new left-sided defender and can compete with Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly at left centre-back or left-back.
The Ecuadorian may effectively come in to replace Jakub Kiwior, who looks primed to leave Arsenal.
Kiwior was linked with Crystal Palace last week, potentially as something of a makeweight for Eze.
That deal has not materialised, and Kiwior is instead set for a move to Portugal with FC Porto.
However, A Bola report that Kiwior’s move to Porto has now been delayed, as Arsenal have yet to sign off on the deal.
It’s stated that a private jet was lined up to depart London on Tuesday night, which would have taken Kiwior to Portugal to finalise his move.
That flight has now been cancelled, with Porto and Arsenal still waiting to find an agreement on Kiwior’s move.
A deal is still expected to go through, with Kiwior potentially heading to Portugal on Wednesday instead.
Fabrizio Romano now adds that Porto are waiting for updates on Kiwior’s future in the next 48 hours, and that he was never likely to fly over on Tuesday.
Porto may have set up a flight just in case talks accelerated on Tuesday; after all, their secret deal to sign Luuk de Jong this summer proves that Porto will look to have every aspect of a transfer ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Kiwior won’t be in Portugal on Tuesday night, but a deal looks to be moving in the right direction this week.
Jakub Kiwior set for Arsenal loan exit
It’s stated that the current terms of the deal will see Kiwior join Porto on loan, with an obligation to buy the defender for €26million (£22.5million).
Porto and Arsenal are still thrashing out ‘details’ over the deal, but that permanent fee would only be paid in 2026.
That may be a source of frustration for Arsenal fans, especially with the Gunners struggling to sell players for close to the values Liverpool receive.
Arsenal will have to fork out a hefty fee for Hincapie, all while knowing that Kiwior’s permanent exit will only go through next year.
That is not an ideal situation, and Arsenal must be mindful of PSR and the UEFA Squad Cost ratio as Arteta targets another big signing.