Arsenal are set to sign Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge in a deal worth €40 million, Club Brugge manager Ivan Leko has confirmed. The Greece international will be the third permanent arrival at the Emirates Stadium this summer, following the signings of Piero Hincapie and Illan Meslier.
The transfer is expected to be officially announced in the coming days, with a full agreement already in place between the two clubs. Tzolis will arrive as a replacement for Leandro Trossard, who recently made a surprise move to Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig.
Leko addressed Tzolis’ future following Club Brugge’s pre-season friendly defeat to Heerenveen on Friday, praising the player’s work ethic and potential. “I am very happy for him [but] I am very sad for me on one side, because we are losing a top player,” he told DAZN, as reported by The Evening Standard. He highlighted Tzolis’ dedication to improvement as the key to earning a move to a major European club.
Leko also expressed confidence that Tzolis will succeed in the Premier League and Champions League, stating he “will have his minutes, that he will show some highest level…and he will show that he is a top player”. He emphasized the move as a positive outcome for both Club Brugge and Belgian football.
Tzolis enjoyed a prolific season with Club Brugge, registering 22 goals and 29 assists across all competitions. He is anticipated to compete with Gabriel Martinelli for a starting position on the left wing at Arsenal. While the arrival of another left winger, such as Bradley Barcola or Yan Diomande, could potentially relegate Tzolis to a backup role, he is still expected to feature prominently in Arteta’s squad during the 2026-27 season.
The 25-year-old’s ability to deliver effective set-pieces could also prove valuable for Arsenal, as they look to capitalize on dead-ball situations in the upcoming campaign.
