Gyokeres after signing noted that the North London outfit has a rich history and a massive fan base.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Sporting CP forward, Viktor Gyokeres.
The Gunners will pay the Portuguese club a £55m (€63m) guaranteed fee, plus £8.5m (€10m) in add-ons, with Gyokeres joining on a five-year deal.
The move for the 27-year-old Swedish striker was initially held up because of negotiations between the clubs over add-on payments.
Speaking after completing the move,
Gyokeres who was in the Sporting side dismantled by Arsenal in the group stage of Europe’s top competition in November said he felt it was the right decision for him.
He also noted that the North London outfit has a rich club history and a massive fan base.
He said, “I just felt it was the right club for me,” said Gyokeres. “What I heard from Mikel and [sporting director] Andrea Berta and just what I’ve seen in the past years, how they’ve been playing football.
“When I played against Arsenal last season, I could really feel it was a very strong team and very difficult to play against.
“That made me choose Arsenal, and of course all the history the club has and the massive fan base.”
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Also hailing the move, Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta listed his qualities.
“Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels,” he said.
He added, “He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat.
“We’re excited about what Viktor brings to our squad and are looking forward to starting working with him.”
Gyokeres netted 54 goals in only 52 games in all competitions last campaign in Portugal, including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League, as he helped Sporting win the league and the Portuguese Cup.
The move to Arsenal sees Gyokeres return to English football, having joined Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2018, before moving to Coventry after loan spells at St Pauli and Swansea City.
He scored 43 goals for Coventry in his two-and-a-half seasons with the Championship side.
His signing takes Arsenal’s summer spending up to about £204m, following the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera.
