Arsenal have completed the £34m signing of 24-year-old Greece international winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge on a long-term contract. Arriving as a replacement for Leandro Trossard, Tzolis joins the Premier League champions after a standout Belgian campaign featuring 43 goals and 45 assists across 108 appearances.
Christos Tzolis and Club Brugge Fee
The north London club secured the winger’s services for a fee understood to be £34m, marking a record for the Belgian Pro League, according to Sky Sports. The transfer represents Arsenal’s third permanent addition of the summer window, following the arrivals of goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer from Leeds and Piero Hincapié, whose temporary spell was made permanent.
Tactical Fit and Replacing Leandro Trossard
Tzolis arrives to fill the squad void left by Leandro Trossard, who departed for Besiktas earlier in the month in a £17m deal. Like Trossard, the Greek forward operates primarily on the left flank while maintaining the tactical flexibility to play across the entire front line or as a No 10.
Five-Year Contract and Medical in London
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Greek winger Christos Tzolis. The 24-year-old has arrived from Club Brugge for a £34million fee, signing a five-year contract to commit his future through until 2031. He becomes Arsenal’s third summer signing, joining after the Gunners already brought in goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer and made Piero Hincapie’s loan move permanent.
Tzolis flew into London for a medical on Tuesday and put the final touches on his switch to north London. Arsenal have identified him as a player who will raise the technical level of the squad in attack.
Last season in Belgium, Tzolis scored 22 goals and provided 29 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions, attracting interest from across Europe. Overall, he scored 17 goals and provided 23 assists in 36 league appearances last season. During his time in Belgium, he also lined up in the Belgians’ 3-0 Champions League defeat to Mikel Arteta’s side last season. Tzolis has been capped 34 times for Greece.
Morgan Rogers Transfer to Chelsea
Sky Sports News understands that Morgan Rogers was identified as the club’s top attacking target, but the England international instead completed a British-record £117m move to London rivals Chelsea. Tzolis’s move to the Emirates Stadium arrives 48 hours after the north Londoners missed out on Morgan Rogers, who signed a £117m British-record fee with Chelsea, describing his new employers as the biggest club in London
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Last summer, Crystal Palace strongly considered Tzolis as a replacement for now-Arsenal star Eberechi Eze.
Hayk Milkon tells Sky Sports, who was Club Brugge’s assistant manager for Tzolis’ entire time in Belgium up until February of this year: “He’s able to fulfil different roles. Coming from the left side – giving him this space to start wide and then find the moments to get more inside – that’s where he’s at his strongest. If he’s assigned to play really wide to get these one on ones, he’s able to do it. But he’s always strongest the closer he is to the goal. Whenever he’s more central, you can expect him…”
Andrea Berta, Arsenal sporting director
Berta added that he is an extremely versatile attacking player who possesses incredible technical ability and thrives in tight spaces.
Former Club Brugge assistant manager Hayk Milkon offered further tactical insight to
Sources: bbc.co.uk.
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