Arsenal have announced the signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. The Greek international arrives at the Emirates in a deal valued at £34 million ($45.3 million), according to football.london, having put pen to paper on a five-year deal.
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The 24-year-old attracted Arsenal’s attention last season when the two sides met in the UEFA Champions League. The Gunners romped to a 3-0 victory en route to topping the league phase, which set the stage for a remarkable run all the way to the Final.
Sporting director Andrea Berta commented: “We’re delighted to have completed the signing of Christos Tzolis. Christos is an extremely versatile attacking player who naturally operates on the left but is comfortable across the front line. He’s an excellent finisher with both feet, thrives in tight spaces, and possesses incredible technical ability.
-Credit:Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images
“Christos has produced outstanding numbers in terms of goals and assists over the last three seasons, and he’s a player who will raise the technical level of our squad, while bringing positive energy, enthusiasm, and a strong mentality to our team.
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“We’re confident Christos will make a significant contribution to our club, and we hope our supporters will enjoy watching him play in an Arsenal shirt. We look forward to sharing this exciting new chapter together.”
Tzolis will don the No. 17 jersey and is viewed as a capable successor to Leandro Trossard, who has departed for Besiktas.
Gabriel Martinelli‘s future remains uncertain, with the club’s pursuit of high-profile targets such as Morgan Rogers, who Chelsea have already secured, and Bradley Barcola, among others, being considered entirely separate from the Tzolis deal.
With 22 goals and 29 assists to his name, Tzolis attracted considerable attention from multiple clubs. However, football.london understands that Arsenal were the player’s clear first choice above all other suitors.
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“It’s absolutely amazing to sign for such a big club, the champions of England. I’m very proud to be part of this team for the next season,” the winger said. “When my agent was saying maybe it was a possibility, I was already excited. Afterwards it was getting more serious and now I’m here.
“I had a nice conversation [with Mikel Arteta]. It was around an hour. We talked about everything, about the club, about myself, about his plans, about me of course, about the team. It was only positive things.”
Tzolis is no stranger to Premier League soccer, having previously featured for Norwich City. He made his top-flight debut against the Gunners during the 2021/22 season, when Arsenal were chasing their first victory after losing their opening three fixtures.
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A viral social media clip of his display generated significant buzz. Much like Trossard, he is a technically gifted wide player with a keen eye for goal and an instinct for the killer pass.
Numerous parallels are being made between the Belgian and Tzolis, though significant distinctions exist as well. Tzolis has yet to prove himself at the highest tier, but boasts seven goal contributions across 21 appearances in the Champions League. Tzolis could feature for the first time in the club’s colors during their initial preseason friendly against Girona on August 1.
