Football: Arsenal sign Polish defender Kiwior

LONDON – English Premier League leaders Arsenal have signed Polish international defender Jakub Kiwior on a long-term deal from Serie A’s Spezia, the London club said on Monday.

Although it did not specify the length of Kiwior’s contract, the transfer was reported by British media to be worth more than £20 million (S$32.5 million).

“It’s fantastic that Jakub is joining us. He is a versatile young defender who has shown enormous potential and qualities with Spezia in Serie A, and also at international level with Poland,” manager Mikel Arteta said in a statement.

The 22-year-old, who will wear No. 15, joined Spezia in August 2021 and made 43 appearances, and was also part of the Polish national team at the World Cup in Qatar.

“Jakub is a player who will add strength and quality to our defensive unit,” Arteta added.

Second-placed Manchester City were also busy in the transfer market, signing Argentinian midfielder Maximo Perrone from Velez Sarsfield on a deal until 2028 for a reported £8 million. The 20-year-old scored thrice and provided two assists after making his club debut in March.

Perrone will join compatriot and World Cup winner Julian Alvarez at City after his involvement in the Under-20 South American Championship is over.

On the managerial front, former Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard has missed out on the Poland national team job after Polish FA president Cezary Kulesza announced the appointment of former Portugal manager Fernando Santos as their new coach.

“See you tomorrow at the conference at the @PGENarodowy stadium!” Kulesza wrote along with a photo with Santos at Warsaw airport on Monday.

Santos, 68, and the Portuguese Football Federation agreed to terminate his contract in December, after their World Cup quarter-final exit to Morocco. He led his nation to success at Euro 2016 and the 2018-19 Nations League.

Netherlands, too, have a new coach in Ronald Koeman, and he said he will return to the traditional Dutch way of playing after predecessor Louis van Gaal upset sensibilities by changing the team’s approach during his stint.

Koeman, who had been named as successor to van Gaal in 2022, was officially unveiled on Monday at a news conference and said he would field a team with four defenders again, rather than the three centre backs and two wing-backs that van Gaal had preferred over the last 18 months.

“In principle, we are going back to the system we played before,” said Koeman, who had been Dutch coach previously from 2018 to 2020 before leaving abruptly for Barcelona.

“I will sometimes change systems, but we will follow the basic principle of four defenders.”

Dutch sensibilities over tactics were irritated when van Gaal abandoned the traditional 4-3-3 approach for a more counter-attacking game.

Van Gaal insisted it was the only way to become world champions but Koeman said he felt at times while watching the World Cup in Qatar that there might have been a bit more flexibility in the Dutch approach and tactical set-up.

The Netherlands were eliminated by eventual winners Argentina in the quarter-finals last month.

Koeman, who turns 60 in March, said he had already discussed the issue with some players, adding: “You have to ask them what they think about it.”

Asked whether he had spoken to van Gaal, who had always been due to leave after the World Cup, Koeman said: “No. I haven’t done and I don’t find that interesting either. I have my own ideas and experience. I don’t think it’s necessary.”

Koeman said he would be chasing trophies, starting with the Nations League in June. The Netherlands host the four-team final tournament, against Croatia, Italy and Spain.

REUTERS