Arsenal agree loan deal for Fabio Vieira - Ornstein

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 24 Aug 2024 02:03 CDT
• 3 min read

FC Porto have agreed a deal to re-sign Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira on loan for the 2024-25 season, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

The 24-year-old joined Arsenal from the Portuguese giants for €35 million in July 2022, but he has struggled for game time since moving to the Emirates Stadium.

Last season, Vieira amassed just 561 minutes of action in all competitions, with Kai Havertz and Declan Rice favoured by Mikel Arteta.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals

The ex-Portugal U21 international wasn’t included in Arsenal’s matchday squad to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday and he will not be involved against Aston Villa this weekend as Porto look to finalise the deal.

Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, while Ethan Nwaneri is expected to play a more prominent role this season. As a result, the decision has been made for Vieira to leave the Gunners on loan, as per Ornstein.

The 24-year-old made 76 first-team appearances for Porto after progressing through the club’s academy system and he is their 13th most expensive sale of all time.

READ MORE: Arsenal's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Arsenal’s summer transfer business

So far this summer, Arsenal have been fairly quiet in the transfer market, although they have added Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, while David Raya’s loan move has been made permanent.

They remain interested in signing a new forward, but the Gunners now appear unlikely to sign Victor Osimhen or Viktor Gyokeres before the window ends.

Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman has emerged as a target in recent days, although the Nigerian has verbally agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain, meaning a move to the Emirates Stadium now appears unlikely.

Meanwhile, Jakub Kiwior and Eddie Nketiah could leave the club before the window shuts. The former is liked by multiple clubs in Serie A, while Nottingham Forest are in negotiations to sign Nketiah.