Arsenal have officially confirmed the permanent transfer of defender Jakub Kiwior to FC Porto, marking the club’s first completed sale of the summer transfer window. The Poland international had been on loan with Porto since September, and the Portuguese club triggered a release clause to secure his services permanently for a fee of €17 million, with potential add-ons reaching €5 million.
Porto announced the completion of the deal last week, detailing a contract for Kiwior that runs until June 2030, including a €70 million release clause. The club statement also confirmed Arsenal will receive a fixed €2 million payment in the event of any future transfer involving Kiwior, and that no intermediary was involved in the deal. Arsenal’s confirmation arrived later, unusually included within their regular ‘Loan Watch’ update on the club website.
Kiwior made a significant impact during his loan spell, featuring in 38 matches for Porto as they secured the Portuguese top-flight title – their first since 2022. He was an unused substitute in Porto’s most recent league match, a 3-1 defeat to AFS, with the team rotated ahead of other commitments. The defender joined Arsenal in January 2023 from Spezia, making 37 appearances for the Gunners across all competitions, though he struggled to consistently hold down a starting position.
The move to Porto provides Kiwior with a clear pathway for regular first-team football, something he was not guaranteed at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal, meanwhile, will look to reinvest the funds from the sale as Mikel Arteta seeks to strengthen his squad. The club has been linked with several players, including Newcastle United’s Valentino Livramento, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon, as well as Julian Alvarez and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Additionally, Piero Hincapie is expected to join permanently after a successful loan spell from Bayer Leverkusen. This sale signals the beginning of what is expected to be an active summer for Arsenal in the transfer market.
