Gyökeres to Arsenal Transfer Hits Last-Minute Snag Over Solidarity Payment Dispute

The deal for Viktor Gyökeres is stalled despite personal terms and main fees being agreed, with a dispute over a solidarity payment to Coventry City now the final, critical hurdle.

Just when it seemed a blockbuster deal was on the brink of completion, Arsenal’s move for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres has hit a significant and frustrating impasse. Sources close to the negotiations confirm that while Arsenal has agreed to terms on the final £2.5 million in performance-related add-ons, a new, unexpected demand from the Portuguese club has brought the transfer to a grinding halt.

The core of the issue lies with a FIFA-mandated “solidarity mechanism” payment. This fee is owed to Gyökeres’ former club, Coventry City, as compensation for their role in his training and development. Under the terms of the original transfer that took the Swedish striker to Portugal, this payment is the sole responsibility of Sporting CP.

However, in a last-minute shift, Sporting are now demanding that Arsenal share this financial obligation, asking the Gunners to cover 50% of the solidarity fee. This unexpected demand has been met with frustration in North London, with Arsenal reportedly unhappy at what they perceive as an attempt to alter the goalposts after the main structure of the deal had already been settled. The stalemate over this payment is now the single biggest obstacle preventing the deal from being finalized.

While the clubs remain locked in a financial standoff, the player himself has left no room for doubt about his intentions. Viktor Gyökeres has made it unequivocally clear that his heart is set on a move to the Emirates Stadium. Despite Sporting CP’s attempts to generate a bidding war by offering the prolific striker to other top clubs, including Manchester United and teams in the Saudi Pro League, Gyökeres’ message has been resolute: he only wants Arsenal.

This unwavering stance from the player puts significant pressure on Sporting. They are faced with the prospect of keeping an unsettled star who is determined to leave, which significantly weakens their negotiating position. For Arsenal, while the new demand is unwelcome, the player’s commitment provides a powerful bargaining chip.

The situation leaves the much-anticipated transfer in a state of limbo. All major financial components are agreed upon, personal terms are in place, and the player is pushing for the move. Yet, until one of the clubs budges on the issue of the solidarity payment, one of the summer’s biggest transfer sagas will remain frustratingly incomplete. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether a compromise can be found or if the deal will collapse at the final hurdle.