Arsenal’s new signing Viktor Gyokeres unveiled at National Stadium ahead of Newcastle game

SINGAPORE – Arsenal fans in Singapore were the first to get an in-person look at their latest signing Viktor Gyokeres, as the Swedish striker was paraded at the National Stadium just before the club’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle United at the National Stadium on July 27.

At about 7.20pm, a photo of Gyokeres was first put up on the stadium’s jumbotron which prompted the Arsenal fans to get on their feet with their mobile phones primed for a photograph. Just seconds later, the Swede strolled out in the red, home Arsenal kit with the number 14 emblazoned on the back of his jersey.

He then walked onto the pitch, clapped and waved towards the fans as he soaked in the loud adulation of the crowd, the majority of whom are Arsenal fans.

After posing for photographs, he headed back to the tunnel, where he hugged his new teammates as they emerged from the dressing room.

The match against League Cup holders Newcastle is the Gunners’ second pre-season match.

On July 23, the Gunners secured a 1-0 victory over Italian giants AC Milan at the National Stadium which saw them kick off the 2025 Singapore Festival of Football series on a winning note.

Gyokeres is likely to be handed his Arsenal debut when the Gunners face local rivals Tottenham Hostpur on July 31 in Hong Kong.

Arsenal announced on July 26 that they had signed Gyokeres from Sporting on a five-year deal.

While financial details of the transfer were not disclosed, British media reported Arsenal agreed to pay £55 million (S$94 million) up front plus around £8 million in add-ons.

“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Viktor Gyokeres to the club,” manager Mikel Arteta said in a club statement.

Gyokeres has been one of Europe’s most in-demand strikers this summer and was identified as Arsenal’s preferred centre-forward target.

This was after he helped Sporting win the league and the Portuguese Cup last season, when he scored 54 goals in 52 games in all competitions, including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League.

Arsenal finished second in the Premier League for a third consecutive campaign in the 2024-25 season, 10 points behind champions Liverpool with 17 fewer goals scored.

Gyokeres is the club’s sixth signing in a busy summer for the Gunners, who have already recruited midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and winger Noni Madueke, and centre-back Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia.