OFFICIAL: Arsenal complete Christos Tzolis signing for €40m

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Matthew Judge | Editor

Premier League champions Arsenal have completed the signing of Greece international Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.

Widespread reports understand Tzolis has joined the Gunners in a €40million (£34.1m) deal, though the club have said the fee is undisclosed.

The length of contract is also unknown, with Arsenal having announced Tzolis has put pen to paper on a “long-term contract”.

Tzolis becomes Arsenal’s third summer signing following the earlier arrivals of defender Piero Hincapie and goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Hincapie’s loan was turned into a permanent move from Bayer Leverkusen, while Meslier joined on a free transfer following his exit from Leeds United.

Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, Tzolis admitted he is still trying to come to terms with joining a club of such stature.

When asked how much it meant to join the reigning champions, he said: “I need some time to realise, I think! 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. 

“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.”

Tzolis said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was instrumental in his decision to join the club, adding: “I had a nice conversation [with him]. 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 sparkled for Brugge over the last two seasons

Tzolis started his professional career with Greek outfit PAOK and spent two seasons with the club before joining Norwich City in 2021.

The 24-year-old scored just two goals in 17 appearances in 2021-22 before moving to Dutch side Twente on loan for the 2022-23 campaign.

However, after scoring three times in 15 games for Twente, Tzolis returned to Norwich for the remainder of that season, where he bagged one goal in 13 appearances.

STATS

Christos Tzolis

F, M, AM (L)

Brugge

Christos Tzolis

F, M, AM (L)

Brugge

Championship

2022/23

• 13

  Games

• 1

  Goals

• 0

  Assists

View all stats

Tzolis then joined German team Dusseldorf for the 2023-24 season and scored 24 goals in 35 games in the second division.

Those exploits caught the attention of Belgian side Brugge, who agreed a €6m (£5m) deal with Norwich to sign Tzolis on a permanent basis.

Tzolis has sparkled for Brugge over the last two seasons, plundering 43 goals in 108 games and winning three trophies including the 2025-26 league title.

BBC Sport reported earlier in July that Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta was driving the pursuit of Tzolis this summer.

And Berta has now expressed his delight at Tzolis’ arrival, telling Arsenal’s official website: “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.

“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.”

Tzolis is viewed as a replacement for Leandro Trossard after the Belgium international joined Besiktas in a €18m (£15.3m) last Tuesday (14 July).