Viktor Gyokeres Transfer Delay: Why Arsenal's New Striker Hasn't Flown to London Yet

The long-awaited transfer of Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal is in its final stages, but a legal stalemate has grounded the Swedish striker in Portugal, holding up what appears to be a done deal.

Although Gyokeres was expected to arrive in London for his medical and contract signing, the delay in finalizing paperwork between Sporting CP and Arsenal has kept him waiting.

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Despite Arsenal and Sporting CP agreeing to the core financial terms of €63.5 million upfront and €10 million in performance-related add-ons, the deal has not crossed the finish line due to intense legal scrutiny.

Reports indicate both clubs' legal teams are reviewing every clause in the contract, reflecting a clear lack of trust that has slowed the process to a crawl.

The delay has kept Gyokeres, who had prepared to fly to London yesterday, from completing his five-year contract reportedly worth €8 million per season until 2030.

The final agreement also came after Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, waived his €7 million commission to facilitate the move, underscoring the efforts made to push the deal over the line.

However, Sporting's insistence on favorable add-on terms, pushing for easier bonus triggers, extended negotiations beyond expectations.

With the paperwork nearly done, Gyokeres is simply waiting for Sporting CP's green light to board a flight to London and join Arsenal’s ongoing preseason tour of Asia.

The Gunners recently edged AC Milan 1-0 in Singapore and are set to face Newcastle United this Sunday before wrapping up their tour against rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong next Thursday.

Should the final legal checks conclude today (Friday, July 25), Gyokeres could be en route to join his new teammates and finally bring Arsenal’s striker hunt to a close.