30 Apr 2026 10:02 BST |
5 min read
Arsenal’s first piece of transfer business for summer 2026 is on the very of being completed, with the Gunners set to sell Jakub Kiwior to Porto in a €20 million agreement that will trigger a ripple effect throughout Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Kiwior was sent to Porto on loan last summer after falling out of favour at the Emirates Stadium, and Record confirms that the Portuguese side will active that purchase of the Poland international defender.
The 26-year-old will sign a four-year deal with Francesco Farioli’s side, having featured on 37 occasions for the club.
Kiwior exit part of Arsenal’s renovation plans
Kiwior’s exit from Arsenal comes as little surprise given he failed to establish himself as a first-team regular under Arteta, yet the €20m windfall that the Gunners will receive from the deal will allow the manager to reinvest in his squad.
The Gunners have been primarily linked with a new left-back owing to concerns over the fitness levels of Riccardo Calafiori while Myles Lewis-Skelly does not appear to have won the confidence of the Spaniard, having rarely featured in recent times.
Arsenal have an option to buy in Piero Hincapie’s loan from Bayer Leverkusen, which is worth a total of €52m, and are expected to take that up. They are also seeking further cover in that area of the field. Newcastle’s Tino Livramento is one of the players who has been sounded out for the role, as FootballTransfers exclusively revealed.
More broadly, Arsenal have several players they will consider moving on in the summer as they seek to strengthen key areas of the squad.
Another left-sided attacker is likely to be high on the club’s shopping list, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard potentially making way for a new signing. Both are out of contract in 2027.
In attack, meanwhile, the North London outfit will likely seek to offload Gabriel Jesus, who is another with a year to run on his deal. The Brazil international has increasingly struggled to get minutes following an ACL injury.
Kiwior to fund €20m Kostov deal?
While the €20m Arsenal will receive for Kiwior will not directly fund a world-class replacement, it could allow the club to invest in its future.
Serbian wonderkid Vasilije Kostov has been linked with a move to Arsenal, with local source Sportinjo claiming the Gunners ‘couldn’t wait’ to offer a €12m upfront fee plus another €8m as bonuses.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Arsenal are studying the possibility of signing Kostov, explaining on his YouTube channel: “He is an attacking midfielder playing for Red Star Belgrade, 17 years old, a very interesting player with potential. Italian clubs and German clubs have been tracking him, but now it is true what has been reported in Serbia: Arsenal are also following Kostov closely.
“They have made contact with people close to the player and are considering a move. Arsenal want to invest in talents, not only established players, so Kostov is one of the young players they are monitoring.
“It is still early to say whether Arsenal will close the deal, but there is genuine interest. They have been scouting him and following him, so this is one to watch ahead of the summer transfer window.”
So while Kiwior’s move away from Arsenal may not look an important deal in isolation, this agreement could have a profound impact on the squad for years to come if the €20m transfer fee is used wisely.
Related stories:
‘Dembele is leaving PSG’ – Why Ballon d’Or winner’s exit could become reality
Arsenal Transfer News Today: Arteta plots Real Madrid raid as ‘new Odegaard’ deal eyed
Transfer Rumours: Chelsea in Jackson twist as Greenwood becomes €50m alternative
The FootballTransfers app
Check out FootballTransfers’ new app for all of football’s big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.
The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:
•Google Play
•App Store
