Arsenal FC are in advanced talks to offload Jakub Kiwior to Portuguese outfit FC Porto. The Arsenal defender did not feature in their Premier League matchday squad to play Manchester United on Sunday. The 25-year-old was left out by Mikel Arteta at Old Trafford. It appears that he might be willing to depart the Gunners before the end of the summer transfer window.
Who is Jakub Kiwior?
Jakub Piotr Kiwior is a 25-year-old Polish defender who plays as a centre back. He plays currently for Arsenal FC and Poland national team.
Kiwior came into professional football in 2018 playing for Slovak club FK Zeleziarne. After that he took a transfer to MSK Zilina in 2019 and Spezia Calcio in 2021. He played some fine matches for the Italian club. Kiwior moved in 2023 on a 25 million Euros deal to Arsenal on a long-term contract.
Jakub has played for Poland at all youth levels. He has earned 35 caps for Poland senior national team. The defender has played 68 times on the field securing 14 clean sheets in all competitions. He debuted in Europa League against Sporting in Round of 16 for 22/23 season.
Current scenario:
The Poland international appeared 30 times last term in all competitions. But he started only 10 league games for Arsenal. He has gone further down the pecking order after Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera’s summer signing.
He was sitting on the bench of substitutes along with Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly at Old Trafford. Kiwior stayed behind at home amidst rumors of a transfer to Porto. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are the most dependable first-choice duo in north London. Jurrien Timber, Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori can all play at centre-half.
Rumours swirled around him:
Portugal reports indicated Porto had abandoned a potential move after finding out Arsenal’s massive ยฃ26m fee. The club have signed Jan Bednarek on a โฌ7.5m (ยฃ6.5m) contract from Southampton. But the latest reports indicate Porto have not abandoned a move and are once again in discussion with the player. Francesco Farioliโs side submitted a loan with an obligation-to-buy offer in late July and they remain in advanced talks with Arsenal. It was reported by Polish outlet Meczyki. Despite seeing their initial bid turned down.
AC Milan are also keen to bring Kiwior this summer, with his uncertain future at the Emirates Stadium, but Porto are set to beat them to the young defender’s signature and the transfer might be “resolved” this week.
Arsenal rate Kiwior highly as a quality player even though they have kept him out of the squad. Porto will not have an easy time in closing the deal. He’s always among the top at Porto and they are monitoring him. The Portuguese club will once again make a second offer for him despite Arsenal’s high ratings.
Arsenal’s summer transfer dealings
Along with Kiwior, Arsenal are also set to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko to Fenerbahce reportedly.
The Gunners have sold only Nuno Tavares and Marquinhos for a total of 8 million Euros thus far this summer, with Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jorginho all leaving on Bosman transfers. In comparison, however, they spent nearly 200 million Euros to sign Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga and the aforementioned Mosquera.
Author’s Insight:
For the past few days the situation was otherwise. Jakub Kiwior was in the bottom rung of Arteta’s pecking order. His transfer to Porto appeared likely. But Fabrizio Romano’s reports altered the entire picture. Arsenal considering Jakub as a key player made it difficult for Porto to come to terms. Porto will make a second offer to purchase him. But as of today, Kiwior is already training with the Arsenal players.
