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Arsenal news: £19m signing confirmed as Gunners complete first summer transfer business

Arsenal have completed their first piece of business in the summer window with a £19million transfer being sealed hot off the back of Mikel Arteta's side reaching the Champions League final

12:01, 07 May 2026

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal badge

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Mikel Arteta is set for another busy transfer window(Image: Getty Images)

Arsenal now face the massive challenge of turning their attention back to the Premier League title race. The Gunners make the trip to West Ham United on Sunday, just days after securing their place in the Champions League final.

Mikel Arteta's squad sit five points ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand on their title competitors. Arsenal gained an unexpected advantage when City were held to a draw at Everton on Monday and can move closer to claiming the crown with victory this weekend.

However, the upcoming match against West Ham arrives hot on the heels of the team's gruelling semi-final win against Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, the Gunners have wrapped up a signing before the summer transfer window opens. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at some of the major developments concerning Arsenal.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates progressing to the final of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on May 05, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

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Declan Rice stressed Arsenal cannot afford to let Manchester City back into the title race(Image: Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)

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Declan Rice establishes objective

Declan Rice has stressed that Arsenal cannot afford to let Man City close the gap in the Premier League standings. The 27-year-old is gearing up to take on relegation-battling West Ham, where he flourished following his release from Chelsea. Yet, he has urged the Gunners to secure victory in all their remaining fixtures to end the club's 22-year drought for a league championship.

"That club gave me everything, without West Ham there's no me," Rice told Prime Video. "I honestly believe that. They gave me a chance when Chelsea didn't.

"A lot of people there really pushed me on, (David) Moyes, (Slaven) Bilic and (Manuel) Pellegrini made me captain. There's loads of good things about that club, so it's not nice to see the position they're in.

"But it's football and I've got a job to do on Sunday. We're trying to win a Premier League title, we want to win every game and I'm sure they will want to as well, so let the best team win."

Arsenal finalise deal

Jakub Kiwior of Porto

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Jakub Kiwior has completed a move to Porto(Image: Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Porto have confirmed that defender Jakub Kiwior has sealed a permanent switch from Arsenal.

The 26-year-old has spent the campaign on loan with the newly-crowned Portuguese champions, appearing in 38 matches across all competitions.

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A Porto club statement revealed that the Arsenal loanee had been signed for an initial £14.68million, plus a further £4.32m in potential bonuses. Kiwior has penned a four-year contract with the club, which features a £60.45m buyout clause.

Should the Poland international be sold at a later date, Arsenal will pocket an additional fixed £1.73m fee. Kiwior joined the Gunners from Spezia in January 2023, turning out 68 times for the club.

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