ไทย
English
中國人
Newly crowned Portuguese league champions Porto have confirmed the signing of Jakub Kiwior from Arsenal.
The Polish international spent this season on loan at the Estádio do Dragão, quickly cementing his place as a regular in what has been the stingiest backline across Europe's top seven leagues. Kiwior and his teammates have let in just 15 goals across 32 league matches. On the strength of that impressive record, Porto wasted no time in activating the $20 million (£14.7 million, €17 million) purchase option included in his contract.
Arsenal could receive an additional $5.9 million "depending on the achievement of certain objectives," while any subsequent transfer involving Kiwior could earn the Gunners up to $2.4 million more, according to a statement released by Porto.
Kiwior was never considered a first-team regular during his two years at Arsenal following his move from Spezia for around $22.9 million. The adaptable defender settled into a backup role and truly shone toward the end of last season when he was called upon to deputize for the injured Gabriel.
After delivering a string of impressively assured displays in crucial Champions League knockout matches against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, Mikel Arteta made a point of publicly praising the understated performer. "He deserves a lot of credit because he hasn't played too much throughout many months and suddenly he has been thrown into the most difficult context," the Arsenal manager said.
"At the highest level, playing against the best opponents when you haven't had the physical rhythm or the confidence to do it, and I think he's been exceptional."
Nevertheless, Arsenal have performed even more impressively without Kiwior in the side.
Kiwior Exit Paves Way for First Arsenal Buy of the Summer
Arsenal find themselves at a sensitive juncture in the Premier League's financial ecosystem, where outgoings must be weighed just as carefully as incoming deals. With one versatile left-footed defender now officially off the wage bill, the club has the financial room to pursue a younger and more capable replacement for that same role — and they already have a clear idea of how seamlessly he can fit in.
The day after Kiwior's loan move to Porto was confirmed, Arsenal secured the temporary signing of Piero Hincapié. The Bayer Leverkusen loanee has arguably been the club's standout acquisition from a costly summer window, slipping effortlessly into the left side of defense and embodying the tenacious spirit of Arteta's hard-nosed side. "He's a warrior," the Gunners boss is fond of saying. "He will play through brick walls for you."
The $20 million raised from Kiwior's sale will cover only around a third of the anticipated $61.3 million cost of signing Hincapié permanently, but it is nonetheless a meaningful contribution.