Arsenal transfer IMMINENT as player arrives to sign contract

Tom Weber
Tom Weber
  • Updated: 19 Mar 2025 13:10 CDT
  • 4 min read
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
© IMAGO

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has been spotted in Rio de Janeiro amid persistent links that he will join Flamengo.

The Gunners midfield maestro is out of contract at the end of the season and signs are increasingly pointing toward a departure. Jorginho's importance has steadily declined and Arsenal are actively trying to sign Martin Zubimendi.

Article continues under the video

Mikel Arteta has only utilised the 33-year-old 12 times in the Premier League this season, with other players favoured over the Italy international. In recent months, transfer links with Brazilian giants Flamengo have refused to go away.

READ MORE: Matheus Cunha to Arsenal - Wolves ace a SPECTACULAR signing if he can answer one doubt

The Serie A side had already attempted to sign Jorginho in January, but Arsenal were unwilling to lose senior players while in the midst of a title challenge.

A winter move was blocked, but Flamengo nevertheless decided to open talks with the midfielder for a free summer transfer when his contract expires.

Jorginho
© IMAGO - Jorginho

Jorginho arrives in Rio

Negotiations with Jorginho haven't been easy. His English wife reportedly wants the player to remain in Europe, but reports in Brazil have increasingly spoken of an agreement between him and Flamengo.

These rumours have now gone into overdrive as Jorginho has been spotted in Rio de Janeiro. The Italian was filmed getting picked up from the airport and reports naturally suggest that his arrival is connected to his seemingly imminent signing with Flamengo.

READ MORE: Arsenal tempted by Premier League flop’s €52m release clause

When quizzed, Jorginho insisted that he was simply visiting family. The veteran was born in Brazil, although he has never played senior football in the country of his birth. However, it is further claimed that he did not rule out a move to Flamengo when pressed on the matter.

Brazilian media reported on Monday that Jorginho's agent was in attendance during Flamengo's Rio de Janeiro state championship victory over Fluminense at the weekend.

The player's representative was slated to hold talks with the club after the match. It seems that a transfer is only a matter of time.