Sophia
“Let it all work out.” That’s the fervent wish of Arsenal fans after a summer transfer window that saw the Gunners invest heavily, signaling their unwavering ambition to finally clinch a major trophy. After three seasons as the perennial bridesmaid, the North London club has made it clear: 2025 is the year they aim to break their drought.
The transfer window, extended due to the FIFA Club World Cup, closed with a flurry of activity, seeing over £3 billion ($4 billion) spent across the Premier League. While Liverpool dominated deadline day headlines with Alexander Isak’s record-breaking move, Arsenal’s strategic acquisitions have positioned them as serious contenders. This isn’t just about spending; it’s about fitting pieces into Mikel Arteta’s intricate puzzle to elevate the team to the next level. Sports Illustrated delves into Arsenal’s most significant transfer window in recent memory, grading their key moves.
Best Signing: Eberechi Eze – A Creative Catalyst
The unexpected knee injury to Kai Havertz prompted Arsenal to seek an additional attacking threat, and they found it in Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze. The speed with which this deal was concluded — reportedly within 30 minutes — suggests a decisive move that could prove to be the summer’s best. Eze embodies everything Arsenal needed and more.
Last season, injuries to Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Bukayo Saka severely hampered Arsenal’s attack. While Ethan Nwaneri offered glimpses of promise, the reliance on makeshift striker Mikel Merino in crucial moments highlighted a significant void. Eze’s electrifying 20-minute cameo at Anfield immediately showcased what has been missing: a dynamic, unpredictable presence on the left flank.
Since their 2022–23 title challenge, Arsenal’s left side has often lacked penetration, allowing opponents to double and triple-team Saka and Martin Ødegaard. Eze, though not a traditional left winger, possesses the dribbling prowess, link-up play, and technical ability to unlock defenses. His arrival offers a genuine threat, capable of combining with Declan Rice or Viktor Gyökeres, and providing the creative spark that can turn draws into victories. While his deployment by Arteta remains to be seen, Eze’s signing is a cause for celebration for Gunners fans.
Statement Signing: Viktor Gyökeres – The Long-Awaited No. 9
The pursuit of a top-tier striker has been a saga for Arsenal, and Viktor Gyökeres’ arrival finally signals the club’s commitment to addressing this critical need. Almost by default, he is the statement signing of the summer. The pressure on Gyökeres is immense; he is expected to be the 20-goal striker who “takes them over the line.”
Three games into his Arsenal career, Gyökeres has shown flashes of brilliance mixed with moments of adaptation. Two goals in three appearances are acceptable on the surface, but the context of blanking against Manchester United and Liverpool highlights the challenge. A lack of a full preseason and Arsenal’s initial reluctance to fully integrate his physical, channel-running style have played a role. However, as he settles, the expectation is that he will become the focal point of Arsenal’s attack.
Unlike previous transfer targets, Gyökeres will be scrutinized not for his past in the Championship or Portugal but for his ability to deliver consistent goals in the Premier League. His success or failure will undoubtedly shape the narrative of Arsenal’s season.
Biggest Surprise: Piero Hincapié – Defensive Reinforcement
Just as attack suffered from injuries, Arsenal’s defense has also been plagued by absences in recent seasons, with key players like Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, and Jurrien Timber spending time on the sidelines. Saliba’s recent ankle twist in the Liverpool warm-up underscored the need for robust defensive depth.
The emergence of 21-year-old Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia provided a glimpse of future potential. However, the biggest surprise came at the eleventh hour with the loan signing of Bayer Leverkusen’s invincible defender, Piero Hincapié. A left-sided center-back comfortable also operating at left-back, Hincapié significantly upgrades Arsenal’s defensive options, providing at least two solid choices for every backline position.
This move, likely to become permanent next summer, offers Arteta the flexibility to rotate Gabriel and maintain defensive solidity, especially in cup competitions where Arsenal has often faltered. Should injuries necessitate a central pairing of Mosquera and Hincapié, the club can now approach such scenarios with confidence.
Outgoing Transfers: A Missed Opportunity?
Arsenal’s challenge with player sales has been a recurring theme. Despite a flurry of deadline-day loan deals, two players remain conspicuously in the squad: Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli. Trossard, surprisingly, received a pay rise without a contract extension, raising questions about his long-term value. Martinelli, once a dazzling prospect, has seen a dip in form, highlighted by a subdued performance against Liverpool.
If Eze establishes himself on the left wing, Trossard and Martinelli could find themselves on the chopping block come January. The club’s inability to consistently recoup significant fees for fringe players remains a point of concern, with Folarin Balogun and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain still holding the record for Arsenal’s highest sales at £35 million ($46.9 million).
Arsenal’s Transfer Window Grade: B+
Andrea Berta’s first transfer window at Arsenal has been a whirlwind of activity, delivering a striker, defensive reinforcements, and top midfield target Martín Zubimendi. The late additions of Eze and Hincapié further underscore a proactive approach rarely seen in recent Arsenal history, a stark contrast to previous windows characterized by less impactful signings.
While Eze is poised to make the left wing his own, a truly dynamic winger who could allow Eze to play centrally might still be a missing piece. The creative potential of having both Martin Ødegaard and Eze on the pitch is tantalizing, but it will require Arteta to make it click. The signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke from Chelsea, while perhaps raising eyebrows, appear to be solid depth additions. Madueke, in particular, looked comfortable on the right wing against Liverpool, suggesting he could be a valuable option behind Saka.
Long-term extensions for Gabriel and academy stars Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are also crucial, laying the groundwork for future stability. While several players departed on loan or permanently, including Jakub Kiwior, Reiss Nelson, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arsenal’s financial acumen in recouping significant fees for fringe players still needs improvement.
Overall, this has been a more than respectable window for Arsenal. The true measure of its success, however, will be determined by whether silverware follows. The ambition is clear, the pieces are largely in place, and now it’s up to the team to perform.
Arsenal Incoming Transfers: Summer 2025
*Fees inclusive of potential add-ons
| Player (Age) | Age | Left | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kepa Arrizabalaga | 30 | Chelsea | £5 million ($6.9 million) |
| Eberechi Eze | 27 | Crystal Palace | £67.5 million ($91.3 million) |
| Viktor Gyökeres | 27 | Sporting CP | £69 million ($94.5 million) |
| Piero Hincapié | 23 | Bayer Leverkusen | Loan |
| Noni Madueke | 23 | Chelsea | £52 million ($69.8 million) |
| Cristhian Mosquera | 21 | Valencia | £13 million ($17.5 million) |
| Christian Nørgaard | 31 | Brentford | £15 million ($20.4 million) |
| Martín Zubimendi | 26 | Real Sociedad | £60.9 million ($82.3 million) |
Arsenal Outgoing Transfers: Summer 2025
*Fees inclusive of potential add-ons
| Player | Age | Joined | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Hein | 23 | Werder Bremen | Loan |
| Jakub Kiwior | 25 | FC Porto | Loan |
| Reiss Nelson | 25 | Brentford | Loan |
| Fabio Vieira | 25 | Hamburg | Loan |
| Oleksandr Zinchenko | 28 | Nottingham Forest | Loan |
| Jorginho | 33 | Flamengo | End of Contract |
| Albert Sambi Lokonga | 25 | Hamburg | £261K ($353K) |
| Marquinhos | 22 | Cruzeiro | £2.6 million ($3.5 million) |
| Thomas Partey | 32 | Villarreal | End of Contract |
| Nuno Tavares | 25 | Lazio | £4.35 million ($5.88 million) |
| Kieran Tierney | 28 | Celtic | End of Contract |
| Takehiro Tomiyasu | 26 | N/A | Released |
For more detailed analysis and the latest updates on Arsenal’s transfer activities, visit Goal.com.
