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| Fabio Vieira of FC Porto looks on during the Liga Portugal Bwin match between SC Braga and FC Porto at Estadio Municipal de Braga on April 25, 2022 in Porto, Portugal. |
Arsenal are close
to signing attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira from Porto in a deal worth up to
€40 million, The Athletic understands.
The 22-year-old
will fly to London on Thursday evening to sign an expected five-year contract.
Vieira has made 39
appearances for Porto this season, scoring seven goals and providing 16
assists.
He can also feature
as a false nine or central midfielder, and has been a regular starter for
Portugal Under-21.
Arsenal will pay an
initial €35 million, with a possible €5 million in add-ons.
It is thought that
the signing of Vieira was driven by Mikel Arteta, who has expressed his
admiration of the playmaker for months.
Vieira’s signing
will be Arsenal’s second deal of the summer, after confirming the arrival of
19-year-old Brazilian Marquinhos.
Vieira, who has
just returned from holiday in Greece, will join a young nucleus of attacking
midfielders which includes Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith-Rowe.
