Arsenal strike £34m transfer deal for Leandro Trossard replacement

Arsenal have reportedly struck a transfer deal with Club Brugge to sign winger Christos Tzolis.

The Gunners have been tracking Tzolis’ progress for some time and stepped up their interest last month as they entered into negotiations with Club Brugge for the 24-year-old.

Tzolis has enjoyed two outstanding seasons in Belgian football, racking up 43 goals and 45 assists in 108 appearances for Club Brugge, while helping the club win the Belgian Pro League, the Belgian Cup and the Belgian Super Cup.

The Belgian champions signed Tzolis for a fee of €3.5million from Norwich City in 2024 and stand to make a tidy profit on the sought-after Greece international, who has been capped 34 times at international level.

According to The Athletic, the Flemish outfit are now resigned to losing their prized possession, with Arsenal ‘in the process of finalising a move’.

The report claims the Premier League champions have wrapped up a €40m (£34m) agreement with Club Brugge, news that follows Leandro Trossard’s departure for Besiktas earlier this week.

Arsenal remain in the hunt for Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers, who is believed to be the club’s primary transfer target this summer.

Tzolis is set to become Arsenal’s third signing of the summer transfer window, with Mikel Arteta’s side already secured a permanent deal for Piero Hincapie – following an initial loan – before capturing Illan Meslier on a free transfer.

During his debut season in English football with Norwich, Tzolis finished the Premier League season without registering a goal or an assist in 14 appearances for the Canaries.

But the following year in the Championship, he notched two goals and two assists after being recalled from a loan stint with FC Twente midway through the campaign.

Tzolis’ current contract with Club Brugge – which he signed on his return to Belgium – is not due to expire until June 2029.

‘I like to score, I like to score goals,’ Tzolis said when asked to describe his playing style.

‘As a winger I like to go every time to the box to shoot and create chances for my team-mates.

‘I’m also fast and I can dribble with both feet.’

As well as Tzolis and Rogers, Arsenal continue to be heavily linked with Bruno Guimaraes, who has reportedly informed Newcastle of his desire to push through a switch to the Emirates.

However, Newcastle are said to be holding firm in their stance that the Brazil central midfielder is not for sale.

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