Arsenal Transfer Window: Who’s Coming and Who’s Going in the Final Days

The final days of the summer transfer window are here, and Arsenal remain right at the heart of the drama.

Mikel Arteta’s side have already been one of Europe’s busiest clubs with eight new arrivals, but the business isn’t done yet. Some Financial Fair Play pressure means exits are as important as incomings, and the club’s recruitment team are juggling both.

Here’s the state of play with just days left before the window slams shut.

Potential Departures

Jakub Kiwior – Porto circling

Jakub Kiwior has been a player in demand all summer, and with Porto pushing hard for a deal, Arsenal are considering their options. The Polish international still has three years left on his contract, and the Gunners feel he has grown in stature since his £17.6m arrival from Spezia in 2023.

Negotiations have focused on a loan with an obligation to buy, which would allow Arsenal to secure a profit while easing the FFP burden in the short term. Kiwior impressed in the latter half of last season, featuring in the Champions League run and playing his part in a memorable 5-1 win over Real Madrid, so any exit will only be sanctioned if the structure makes sense.

Reiss Nelson – Palace pushing

Reiss Nelson looks set to finally call time on his Arsenal career. The winger has never managed to establish himself as a regular under Arteta despite flashes of brilliance, and with just two years left on his deal, a sale is logical.

Crystal Palace are in talks over a £15m move, having recently lost Eberechi Eze to Arsenal. Fulham were previously frontrunners after Nelson’s successful loan spell at Craven Cottage, but they couldn’t strike an agreement. Now Palace are leading the chase, with Nelson keen to find a permanent home where he can start consistently.

Oleksandr Zinchenko – Uncertain future

Arsenal are open to offers for Oleksandr Zinchenko, though no formal bid has yet landed. The Ukrainian has struggled with injuries and, with tactical tweaks to the side by Mikel Arteta, Zinchenko is deemed surplus to requirements at both LB and the LCM role.

His departure will be authorised should an offer land, otherwise it seems he will spend the last year left on his contract in London before being released next summer.

Possible Arrivals

Piero Hincapie – Leverkusen’s defensive rock

Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie has long been admired by Arsenal, and discussions are ongoing. The Ecuadorian is keen on the move, but Leverkusen are holding firm on their €60m (£52m) release clause. To ease the financial strain, talks are centred on a loan-to-buy deal, which would allow Arsenal to spread the cost into next summer.

Hincapie’s arrival looks linked to Kiwior’s departure — one may not happen without the other.

Arnau Martinez – Girona’s versatile full-back

Arsenal have also turned to Spain, submitting an €8m (£6.9m) plus add-ons offer for Girona’s Arnau Martinez. The 22-year-old is naturally a right-back but can also cover at centre-back, ticking the versatility box that Arteta values highly.

Martinez, who has made over 160 appearances for Girona, represents a cheaper alternative to Hincapie. With Leverkusen demanding top dollar, the Spaniard could prove the more realistic late addition.

The Verdict

The final days of Arsenal’s window are shaping up to be a balancing act. Outgoings will dictate incomings, with Kiwior and Nelson the two most likely departures. Should Porto and Palace get their men, that would free space and funds for at least one defensive signing.

Hincapie remains the headline target, but the numbers make Arnau Martinez the more attainable deal. With squad depth already boosted this summer, Arsenal’s late business is all about fine-tuning rather than overhauling.

By Saturday morning, expect serious movements for at least one defender on his way in and at least one familiar face out the door.