Arsenal bet £34m on Greek winger to replace Trossard

Arsenal moved quickly after letting Leandro Trossard leave and signalling that Gabriel Martinelli was for sale, targeting 24‑year‑old Greek winger Christos Tzolis. Sporting director Andrea Berta confirmed the £34m deal with Club Brugge was sealed in July, with a long‑term contract at the Emirates Stadium. Picture: Getty.

Arteta's squad needed a fresh spark after the departure of Trossard and the potential sale of Martinelli. The Greek international, aged 24, offers the pace and versatility the manager said were missing.

The transfer was completed for a reported £34m, paid to Club Brugge. Tzolis signed a long‑term deal in July, binding him to the Emirates Stadium for the foreseeable future.

Deal sealed for £34m

Andrea Berta insisted the winger would ‘raise the technical level of our squad’ and bring a ‘strong mentality’ to the team. He believes the signing aligns with Arsenal’s broader recruitment philosophy.

During the Champions League draw in Monaco, Arsenal officials praised Tzolis to Club Brugge representatives. Club Brugge president Bart Verhaeghe recalled the Arsenal delegation showing ‘tremendous respect’ and lauding the player’s attitude and physical test results.

Early impact and praise

Verhaeghe added that Tzolis ‘came out on top in all the tests’, reflecting the Belgian club’s holistic preparation programme. He noted that Club Brugge have recently supplied players to Arsenal and Inter Milan and are now recruiting directly from Premier League sides such as West Ham.

Arsenal defender Ben White confirmed the new signing has been dominant in pre‑season assessments. ‘Christos has been amazing, he did all the testing and beat everyone,’ White said, adding that the squad is happy with his integration.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand called Tzolis ‘the signing of the season’. He highlighted the value of the £35m fee, praising the winger’s vision and decision‑making in the final third.

Since joining, Tzolis has helped the Premier League champions secure victories in their first four matches, contributing to a strong start ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Napoli. His performances have been noted across north London, reinforcing Arsenal’s attacking options. Fans can Get ahead of the start of the season by tuning into the club’s media channels.

The next challenge for the Greek winger is to maintain his form as Arsenal prepare for the Napoli clash and the grind of the domestic season. If he continues to impress, he could cement a place in Mikel Arteta’s regular line‑up.