Arsenal seal £34m deal for winger Tzolis from Brugge

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Arsenal have signed Greece winger Christos Tzolis on “a long-term contract”, the Premier League champions announced on Thursday.

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No fee was disclosed but British media reports said the 24-year-old had arrived from Club Brugge for £34 million ($45 million), with Tzolis effectively a replacement for Leandro Trossard following his move to Besiktas.

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Arsenal’s third permanent transfer of the current window arrives 48 hours after the Gunners missed out on Morgan Rogers to city rivals Chelsea for a reported £117 million ($157 million) — a record for a British player.

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England midfielder Rogers called Chelsea the “biggest club in London”.

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Tzolis scored 43 goals in 108 appearances for Brugge and featured in the Belgian side’s 3-0 Champions League loss to Arsenal last season.

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He already has experience of English football’s top flight, having joined then Premier League side Norwich after helping PAOK Thessaloniki, the club where he started his career, win the Greek Cup in May 2021.

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Tzolis then had loan spells in the Netherlands and Germany at FC Twente and Fortuna Duesseldorf respectively before he joined Brugge in 2024 and went on to win the Belgian title with the club last season.

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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta welcomed the arrival of Tzolis who has 34 caps for Greece.

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“Christos is an extremely versatile attacking player,” Berta told the club’s website.

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“He’s an excellent finisher with both feet, thrives in tight spaces, and possesses incredible technical ability.

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“Christos has produced outstanding numbers in terms of goals and assists over the last three seasons.

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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,” he added.

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AFP

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