Arsenal
Viktor Gyökeres Embraces Challenge at Arsenal Wearing Iconic No. 14 Shirt
Viktor Gyökeres is eager to prove himself at Arsenal, wearing the iconic No. 14 shirt.
Viktor Gyökeres has expressed enthusiasm about proving his capabilities at Arsenal following his high-profile transfer from Sporting CP. The 27-year-old striker will don the legendary No. 14 jersey, previously worn by Thierry Henry, signaling high expectations among the Arsenal faithful.
In his first interview with the club’s media, Gyökeres emphasized his eagerness to score goals, stating, “I always want to score. To be a part of this club and to score in this kit and with this badge in front of all the supporters, I can’t wait. It will be an amazing feeling.” Reflecting on his career progression since first stepping onto English soil, he noted, “I started here [in England], it feels like a long time ago. I think I’ve improved a lot since then. Now I want to prove myself for real and perform together with the team.”
Gyökeres, who netted 54 goals across all competitions in the 2024–25 season, credited Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta as significant influences in his decision. He remarked on Arsenal’s strong squad and rich history as major draws, saying, “When I was playing 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 fanbase. It’s been amazing to see all the support that they have already given me before I even arrived. That’s what it’s all about. It’s going to be very nice to see them in the stadiums as well.”
Gyökeres also reflected on his international success and Champions League experience, expressing confidence about his ability to perform at the highest levels with Arsenal: “It’s a big honour to play for your country, and then to score goals for them is amazing. When I played at Sporting, I scored a few goals in the Champions League so I feel that I can be on that level as well. Now to come here to a club on Arsenal’s level, I think it’s going to help me perform even better with all the amazing players in this team. I’m really excited to get going.”
Arsenal
Arsenal Manager Confident on Viktor Gyokeres’ Upcoming Debut
Mikel Arteta confirms Viktor Gyokeres will debut for Arsenal once fully fit after complex transfer saga.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has indicated that Viktor Gyokeres will be allowed to make his debut for the club as soon as he is fully fit. The 27-year-old forward joined Arsenal in a deal reportedly worth up to £63.8 million after protracted negotiations with Sporting CP. These talks were complicated by Sporting’s president allegedly reneging on a gentleman’s agreement to accept a reduced fee, which created tension in Gyokeres’ final weeks in Lisbon.
Amid this dispute, Gyokeres refused to participate in first-team training, impacting his financial and physical condition. Arteta commented on the situation: “I think he hasn’t had a single training session with the team since the last game with Sporting when they became champions. So we will assess him tomorrow, he’s done all the medicals, everything is looking good but to get him up to speed with the right levels of fitness I think is very important. So we’re not going to stop him, we want him with us as quick as possible but we’ll have to assess and the medical team will do that.”
Following Arsenal’s 3–2 victory against Newcastle United in Singapore, the team will face Tottenham Hotspur in the first-ever north London derby to be held outside England, scheduled in Hong Kong. Arsenal’s pre-season will conclude with two friendlies at the Emirates Stadium against Villarreal and Athletic Club before the Premier League campaign begins with a visit to Manchester United’s Old Trafford.
Gyokeres previously excelled at Sporting under manager Ruben Amorim, the current Manchester United boss. Although Manchester United reportedly showed late interest in signing the striker, Gyokeres ultimately chose Arsenal.
Arsenal
William Saliba Confirms Commitment Amid Real Madrid Interest
William Saliba signals commitment to Arsenal amid Real Madrid links with a confident two-word reply.
William Saliba has provided a brief but clear response regarding his future at Arsenal amidst ongoing speculation linking him to Real Madrid. Saliba’s current contract runs until June 2027, and while Arsenal have firmly stated that they will reject any offers for the centre back, rumours persist due to Real Madrid’s known strategy of pursuing players nearing contract expiry.
This tactic has previously facilitated departures such as that of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and could potentially influence players like Ibrahima Konaté. However, Saliba addressed the speculation directly after Arsenal’s 3–2 friendly win over Newcastle United at the Singapore National Stadium. When asked about contract renewal, Saliba simply crossed his fingers and looked to the sky, signalling his positive stance.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal will soon “accelerate” their contract negotiations with Saliba, preparing a significant proposal aimed at demonstrating the club’s ambition. Currently, Saliba earns a salary within the club’s second tier of earners, comparable to Bukayo Saka but below that of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz. Like Saliba, Saka is also contracted until 2027 and has expressed his desire to remain at Arsenal, stating in April, “For me, I want to win and I want to win wearing this badge. I am really happy to be here.”
Arsenal
Premier League Transfer Roundup: Key Moves and Interests Revealed
Premier League clubs pursue transfers including Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Cole Palmer, and more.
The 2025/26 season’s transfer speculation continues to captivate Premier League followers. Manchester United recently turned down a €20 million offer from Real Betis for a stake in Antony’s player rights, according to SPORT. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus, currently sidelined by injury, has been linked with a surprising potential move to rivals Tottenham Hotspur and interest from Newcastle United, per CaughtOffside. Despite this, Arsenal is expected to resist selling key players Oleksandr Zinchenko and Leandro Trossard, as detailed by Football Transfers.
Liverpool’s target Alexander Isak has dismissed a lucrative offer from Al Hilal that would have made him one of football’s highest earners, reports Mundo Deportivo. Attention in the transfer market also centers on Manchester City preparing an unprecedented €250 million bid for Cole Palmer, who joined Chelsea two years ago for £45 million, as claimed by Fichajes.
Interest in Aleksandar Mitrović from Manchester United, Newcastle, and Tottenham remains, with Newcastle also linked to RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško. However, Šeško is reportedly more inclined to join Manchester United, according to Guido Schäfer.
To neutralize Real Madrid’s interest, Manchester City plans to offer Rodri a new five-year contract, according to Fichajes. Barcelona, meanwhile, is reportedly willing to sell academy graduate Gerard Martín for as little as €15 million, with Premier League clubs showing interest, according to El Nacional.
Finally, Xabi Alonso has made a decision to move on Raúl Asencio, putting the defender’s future in doubt, reports OK Diario.
