Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal Confirmed: Dream Shirt Number Denied But Second-Choice Up for Grabs

Viktor Gyokeres is finally about to become an Arsenal player. The 27-year-old Swedish striker has waited all summer to move to the Premier League, and now his dream is coming true. Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon have agreed on a total fee of £63.7 million, including add-ons. 

The deal took time. Arsenal had agreed personal terms with Gyokeres weeks ago. But Sporting Lisbon were not happy with the way the add-ons were structured. They wanted more money guaranteed. Negotiations continued until Tuesday night when both clubs reached a breakthrough. 

According to The Guardian, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta stayed quiet about the deal during the club’s pre-season tour in Asia. Reporters kept asking him questions about Gyokeres, but he didn’t say much. After Arsenal’s 1-0 win against AC Milan in Singapore on Wednesday, Arteta said, “I’m not going to speak about a player who is not with us.” 

This was the same message he gave earlier in the week. “When something is confirmed, we will let everyone know,” Arteta told reporters. But now it seems Arteta will have something to say very soon. 

Gyokeres is expected to complete his medical in the coming days. After that, he will sign a five-year contract with Arsenal. The Sweden international is ready to take his scoring talent from Portugal’s Primeira Liga to England’s Premier League. 

Gyokeres has been a goal machine at Sporting Lisbon. Since joining them from Coventry City in 2023, he has scored 97 goals in just 102 matches. That form has attracted many top clubs, but Arsenal moved fastest to get the deal done. 

However, there’s a small issue. Gyokeres won’t be able to wear his dream shirt number at Arsenal. The No.9 shirt, which he wore at Sporting, is already taken. Gabriel Jesus currently wears it. Even though Jesus has struggled with injuries and transfer rumors, he’s still at Arsenal, and he’s not giving up his number. 

When Gyokeres played for Coventry City, he wore the No.17 shirt. But that number is also unavailable. It belongs to Oleksandr Zinchenko, who may leave the club this summer, but nothing is confirmed yet. 

So what number will Gyokeres wear at Arsenal? The No.10 shirt could be a good option. It’s currently vacant after Emile Smith Rowe left the club last summer. The No.10 is a legendary shirt at Arsenal. 

Some of the biggest names in the club’s history wore No.10, including Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie, Paul Merson, and Mesut Özil. If Gyokeres chooses this number, he’ll have a lot to live up to, but it also shows Arsenal have big hopes for him. 

The No.14 shirt is another option. This number was made famous by Thierry Henry, Arsenal’s all-time leading goal scorer. Other big names like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ray Parlour also wore it. 

Gyokeres has worn several different numbers during his career. At youth level, he wore No.10. In senior football, he has worn 12, 14, 42, and 9. That means he could be open to trying something new if No.9 and No.17 are unavailable. 

Currently, other available shirt numbers at Arsenal include 10, 25, 26, 34, and 35. While not all of these are glamorous, Gyokeres may choose a number with personal meaning. 

Arsenal fans are excited to see Gyokeres in action. The team needs more firepower up front, especially with the uncertainty around Gabriel Jesus’s fitness and Eddie Nketiah’s role. Gyokeres could be the missing piece in Arteta’s attack. 

He is strong, fast, and confident in front of goal. His performances in Portugal have shown he can handle pressure and deliver goals consistently. Now, the question is whether he can do the same in the Premier League. 

Arsenal are hoping Gyokeres will help them challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title. They finished second last season, and fans want to go one step further this year. 

The Gunners are also preparing for another Champions League campaign. Having a striker like Gyokeres will give them a better chance of going deep into the tournament. 

Mikel Arteta has carefully built a young and hungry team. Adding someone like Gyokeres shows that Arsenal are serious about winning trophies. 

Even if he doesn’t get his dream shirt number, Gyokeres is joining a club with a strong history, passionate fans, and big ambitions. His journey with Arsenal is just beginning, and the excitement is building fast.