It’s been a successful season for Arsenal players who have spent the campaign at the club and elsewhere
Arsenal’s squad will receive their Premier League winners’ medals on Sunday after they were confirmed as champions earlier this week.
Martin Odegaard will lift the trophy following the match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, with members of the squad handed their medals moments beforehand during a special ceremony on the pitch.
Jakub Kiwior, however, already has his winners’ medal. The central defender joined Porto on loan on deadline day last summer and it’s fair to say the Polish international has flourished in Portugal.
Signed by Arsenal from Italian side Spezia in a deal worth around £20million in January 2022, Kiwior has made 39 appearances for Porto this campaign and has been a major part of their success. The 26-year-old was part of a backline that conceded just 18 times in 34 Primeira Liga games, ensuring Porto finished top of the table and six points clear of second-placed Sporting CP.
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Kiwior and his teammates have already been given their winners’ medals for winning the title and celebrated with thousands of supporters on Saturday, May 16 during a huge trophy parade. Players and supporters enjoyed music, a drone show and fireworks as the Portuguese giants celebrated their success.
Amazingly, Kiwior was actually named on the bench for Arsenal’s first home game of the season against Leeds United on August 23, but he did not come on. Despite this, the defender is not expected to be given a Premier League winners’ medal.
While still technically an Arsenal player, Kiwior’s move to Porto will be made permanent this summer. Porto confirmed earlier this month that they had activated the option to sign the Polish international on a four-year contract, having agreed a £14.7million deal that could increase to £19million.
Intriguingly the new deal includes a huge release clause of £60.4million. Porto’s statement reads: “FC Porto exercised their option to buy 100% of the Polish international’s rights, signing him until 2030.
“FC Porto has exercised the purchase option stipulated in the loan agreement with Arsenal FC and will now permanently own the sporting registration rights and 100% of the economic rights of Jakub Kiwior for a fixed fee of €17million (£14.7m), plus a maximum variable remuneration of €5million (£4.31m) depending on the achievement of certain objectives.
“Arsenal FC will retain a fixed amount of €2million in any potential future transfer of the player. It is further informed that FC Porto has signed a contract with the Polish international defender valid until June 2030, with a release clause of €70m (£60.4m).
“Arsenal FC will assume responsibility for the solidarity mechanism due to third parties, and FC Porto declares that this transfer did not involve any intermediary intervention.”
A statement by Arsenal read: “Jakub Kiwior’s move to Porto has now become permanent following the Dragaos’ Liga Portugal title triumph last weekend. The Polish defender was an unused substitute in this weekend’s 3-1 defeat at AFS, in which the team was rotated.”
