Arsenal agree record €40m deal for Club Brugge's Christos Tzolis to replace Trossard
The Premier League champions have verbally agreed a €40m fee with Club Brugge for the Greek winger, who will have a medical before signing a five-year contract.
Deal agreed
Arsenal have verbally agreed a €40 million (£34m) fee with Club Brugge for Greece international Christos Tzolis. The 24-year-old winger is expected to undergo a medical in the coming days and sign a five-year contract, becoming the direct replacement for Leandro Trossard, who completed a £15m move to Besiktas earlier this week. The deal, negotiated by sporting director Andrea Berta, will be a record sale for Club Brugge, surpassing the €37.5m AC Milan paid for Charles De Ketelaere. Club Brugge CEO Bob Madou and chairman Bart Verhaeghe led the talks, fending off interest from Crystal Palace, Borussia Dortmund, and others.
- Leandro Trossard completes £15m move to Besiktas (14 July)
- Arsenal accelerate interest in Tzolis (14 July)
- Arsenal and Club Brugge reach verbal agreement for €40m fee (16 July)
- Tzolis to undergo medical in coming days
- Expected to sign five-year contract
Tzolis's resurgence
Tzolis returns to the Premier League after a difficult spell at Norwich City, but his career has since flourished. After a prolific loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf where he scored 24 goals in 37 games in 2023-24, he joined Club Brugge for €6m in July 2024. In two seasons in Belgium, he amassed 43 goals and 45 assists in 108 appearances, earning the Pro League Player of the Year award for 2025-26 with 17 goals and 23 assists in the league. His pace, work rate, and creativity (23 assists last season) made him a standout, and he was previously a target for Sporting CP and Crystal Palace.
Arsenal's attacking plans
The move for Tzolis is separate from Arsenal's pursuit of a high-profile forward. The club retains interest in Atlético Madrid's Julián Álvarez, though Barcelona and Real Madrid are also keen. Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers is the preferred versatile forward target, but Villa's valuation exceeds £100m, with some reports citing £130m. Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola is an alternative. Manager Mikel Arteta is also monitoring defensive cover after William Saliba's back injury flared up during the World Cup semi-final, with Villa's Ezri Konsa a potential option.
Injury concerns
Saliba admitted playing through pain and may require surgery, while Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have also been managing injuries during the World Cup. Both are expected to be given extended rest after England's third-place playoff against France. Arsenal will assess Saliba before deciding on surgery, with the defender having said he has been "gritting his teeth" through the problem.
Record for Brugge
For Club Brugge, the €40m fee (plus potential bonuses) marks the first time a Belgian club has sold a player for more than €40m. The club had previously sold Ardon Jashari to AC Milan for €36m plus bonuses, but Tzolis's sale sets a new benchmark. The Greek international, who was signed for just €6m two years ago, now becomes the most expensive outgoing transfer in Jupiler Pro League history.
