Arsenal in talks to sell €35M player as exit looms

Arsenal have entered talks with a German side to sell their €35million asset, as a summer exit looks increasingly likely.

Arsenal are in discussions with VfB Stuttgart over the potential sale of attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira, with the German club pursuing a permanent transfer for the Portuguese international.

According to David Ornstein, Stuttgart have approached Arsenal to sign Vieira and are working on a deal to secure his services. The 25-year-old midfielder has been identified as a target by the Bundesliga side, who are seeking creative reinforcements in their attacking midfield positions.

Vieira joined Arsenal from Porto in the summer of 2022 for an initial fee of €35 million, with add-ons potentially taking the total package to €40 million. However, the Portuguese playmaker has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under Mikel Arteta, securing just five league starts during his time at The Emirates.

The midfielder’s time at Arsenal has been hampered by injury issues, including a groin problem that sidelined him for an extended period during the 2023/24 campaign. After starting the season brightly by scoring the decisive penalty in Arsenal’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City, Vieira’s progress was disrupted when he was sent off against Burnley in November before suffering his injury setback.

Arsenal subsequently loaned Vieira back to Porto for the entire 2024/25 season, where he registered five goals and assists respectively in 35 appearances. The loan deal contained no purchase option, and Vieira was due to return to Arsenal training today, following a holiday granted thanks to his Club World Cup participation with the Portuguese side.

Stuttgart’s interest represents a concrete opportunity for Arsenal to recoup a significant portion of their investment. The German club recently missed out on Greek attacking midfielder Giannis Konstantelias from PAOK after the deal collapsed at the final hurdle, despite reaching an advanced stage worth around €17 million.

Arsenal are likely seeking a respectable fee for Vieira, though they may have to accept a loss on their original outlay. With Martin Ødegaard established as the club’s primary creative force and young prospects Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman impressing, Vieira faces an uphill battle to secure regular first-team football.