Arsenal confirm latest midfield departure as door opens for starlet’s breakthrough
Fabio Vieira has joined FC Porto on a season-long loan from Arsenal. Having not been in any of the Premier League squads for the Gunners so far this new Premier League season, a temporary switch back to his former club has now been completed.
The loan covers all of the 24-year-old’s wages and there is no option or obligatory purchase clause to buy the player outright. He made 16 appearances for Arsenal last season and scored one goal.
Vieira signed for Arsenal in a surprise £34million deal, but has struggled with form and fitness. He missed the opening day squad of the season because of yet another minor issue despite featuring in pre-season and scoring against Bournemouth in the United States. The Gunners will hope that Porto will offer the Portuguese midfielder far more playing time so that he returns in 2025 with his stock at a new high.
This then will be used to assess either to reintegrate him into the squad or aim for a good sale. The club will aim to recoup as much of the fee as possible that they paid two years ago, although this will prove a considerable challenge unless he rediscovers some of the form which earned him the move to Arsenal in the first place.
Arsenal have sold two attacking midfielders in Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira, opening the door for youngster Ethan Nwaneri to get significantly more minutes. He was in the squad for the first two league matches of the new campaign.
