Player explains “quite intense” negotiations to leave Arsenal in summer

In the summer window, Fábio Vieira ended his four-year spell at Arsenal and secured a permanent move to Hamburg SV. 

The Premier League winners signed the 26-year-old from FC Porto in 2022 for a reported fee of €22m.

He struggled for regular minutes under Mikel Arteta, and Arsenal sent him on loan to FC Porto in 2024. Last summer, the Emirates club let the midfielder join the Bundesliga side on loan.

Last season, Vieira scored seven goals and contributed six assists from 31 matches. This was enough to convince the German club to buy him in the summer.

Arsenal forced to give up

The Portuguese returned to the Emirates, where he had a contract expiring in 2027. The Gunners wanted to sell him as he had no future under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal wanted €20m while Hamburg wanted to close the deal for €9-10m. The former were hoping for other clubs to join the battle, while the Bundesliga side knew in advance they have to wait until the end of the window.

Their decision paid off as Hamburg signed Fábio Vieira permanently for a reported fee of €10m on deadline day. He has given a detailed interview to Sky Deutschland, and we focus on his comments about leaving the Gunners.

Arsenal negotiations made Vieira nervous 

Sky points out to Fábio Vieira that he looks happy in training and asks whether Hamburg is the right place for him.

Responding to that, he said: “Absolutely. I’m doing very well here, and I think everyone can see that. The summer wasn’t easy for me. For a long time, I didn’t know where my path would lead.”

“Everyone knew I was going into the final year of my contract with Arsenal. In the end, I decided on Hamburg. I was already here last season, enjoyed every moment, and realised: This is the perfect place for me.”

On the negotiations between the two clubs, Fábio Vieira explained: “The last two or three days in particular were quite intense. I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know if everything would really work out. But in the end, everything went well. Now I’m here and very happy about it.”

In August, Sport Witness relayed news Hamburg director Claus Costa travelled to London to negotiate with the English club.

When asked how important Costa was in the operation, he added: “Very important. Claus had a big influence. He came to London, we had a meeting there, and we laid everything on the table.”

“We talked about how we could find the best possible way for me to join HSV. At some point, it wasn’t up to me anymore, but up to the two clubs. They sorted it out, and now I’m here.”

He played 152 minutes from three matches this season.