Arsenal have completed their first piece of transfer business of the 2026 summer window, with the permanent departure of Jakub Kiwior to FC Porto now officially confirmed.
The Poland international defender, who joined Porto on a season-long loan last September, has made the move permanent after the Portuguese club exercised their €17 million purchase option. The deal includes a further €5 million in performance-related add-ons, bringing the maximum potential value to €22 million. Arsenal will also retain a fixed €2 million slice of any future sale of the player.
A Quiet Confirmation That Raised Eyebrows
In a rather understated fashion, Arsenal chose not to issue a standalone farewell statement for Kiwior. Instead, the Gunners buried the news in their regular “Loan Watch” round-up feature.
“Jakub Kiwior’s move to Porto has now become permanent following the Dragões’ Liga Portugal title triumph last weekend,” Arsenal wrote.
The low-key announcement contrasted sharply with Porto’s more formal declaration, which detailed the full terms of the deal, including Kiwior’s new contract until June 2030 and a substantial €70 million release clause.
Porto’s statement also confirmed that the club now owns 100% of the player’s sporting and economic rights, with no intermediary involvement. Arsenal will cover the solidarity mechanism payments due to third parties.
Kiwior’s Impact at Porto
The 24-year-old has been a key figure for Porto this season, making 38 appearances across all competitions. His performances played a pivotal role in securing the club’s first Portuguese top-flight title since 2022. Even in the final rounds of the campaign, Kiwior remained part of the matchday squad, appearing as an unused substitute in a 3-1 defeat on the final weekend.
Originally signed by Arsenal from Spezia in January 2023, Kiwior struggled for consistent first-team minutes under Mikel Arteta, particularly after the emergence of other centre-back options. The loan to Porto provided him with regular high-level football and a platform to showcase his versatility across defence.
First Summer Outgoing for Arsenal
Kiwior’s exit marks Arsenal’s first confirmed sale of the 2026 summer transfer window. With the squad expected to undergo significant reshaping, the club has already been linked with potential departures involving players such as Ben White, Gabriel Jesus, and Ethan Nwaneri. On the incoming side, attention is turning towards strengthening the squad, with Piero Hincapié widely expected to become the first summer arrival once his loan from Bayer Leverkusen concludes.
The sale of Kiwior, while not a major financial windfall, represents a pragmatic piece of business—recouping a solid fee for a player who was never fully integrated into Arteta’s long-term plans while freeing up squad space and wage budget.
As the summer window heats up, Arsenal’s ability to balance outgoing sales with targeted reinforcements will be critical. For Jakub Kiwior, a new chapter begins in Portugal with a long-term contract and a prominent release clause that reflects his elevated status at Dragão.
One domino has fallen. The question now is how many more will follow before the window closes.