Desire for Arsenal transfer remains top priority for client, according to agent's statement
In a move that has been hailed as a significant coup for Arsenal, the Premier League club has announced the signing of talented forward Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP. The transfer saga, marked by protracted negotiations and complications, has finally come to a close.
The move to Arsenal was not straightforward for Gyökeres due to disagreements at Sporting over valuation, add-ons, and contractual terms. Sporting insisted on a fee matching Gyökeres' status, with a €100m release clause backing their strong position, while Arsenal considered that valuation too high, causing protracted talks.
Gyökeres himself showed his strong desire to move to Arsenal, refusing to train with Sporting to force a move, and his agents even waived their commission to facilitate the deal. The transfer was eventually agreed upon for a base fee around €63.5m plus up to €15m in add-ons, with no agent commissions paid, making it a rare financial win for Sporting.
Key sticking points included Sporting’s insistence on a high valuation based on Gyökeres’ form and release clause, lengthy negotiations over the structure of add-ons in the deal, and Gyökeres’ refusal to report for training to push for the move.
The saga was complicated by offers from other top clubs, including Manchester United and Real Madrid, but Gyökeres prioritized Arsenal and trusted his agent's project for career development. Previously, a gentleman's agreement that would have expedited the deal was in place, but the departure of a former sporting director caused delays.
Arsenal's successful signing of Gyökeres follows their acquisition of Noni Madueke from a rival club and the retention of young starlet Ethan Nwaneri, who recently signed a new deal with the club. Gyökeres, valued at €75m according to Transfermarkt, is set to join Arsenal this summer, adding a promising talent to their roster.
However, the transfer saga serves as a lesson about the risks of joining a club based on verbal terms agreed with one staff member. Gyökeres' agent, Jonathan Chalkias, stated that the deal almost fell through due to the unfulfilled verbal agreement, and agents may be hesitant to send the next up-and-coming star to Sporting due to their unnecessary and public wrangling over Gyökeres' transfer.
Chalkias also revealed that the idea of skipping training came from Sporting, expressing disappointment over the lack of respect shown to Gyökeres during the negotiations. The new incumbents at Sporting should have upheld the promises they inherited regarding Gyökeres' transfer, according to Chalkias.
References:
[1] [Portuguese news source] [2] [British news source] [3] [International news source]
- Despite interest from European giants like Manchester United and Real Madrid, the talented forward Viktor Gyökeres chose to join Arsenal, demonstrating his preference for their project over career development.
- Despite a verbal agreement in place for a smooth transfer, the move for Gyökeres to Arsenal was complicated, with disputes over valuation, add-ons, and controversies surrounding agent commissions, highlighting the risks and uncertain nature of transfer negotiations in premium European leagues like the Premier League.
