Arsenal are on the verge of signing Christos Tzolis, a Greek winger who has just been named Belgian Pro League Player of the Year, in a deal worth around £34 million. The 24-year-old, who previously flopped at Norwich City, has rebuilt his career at Club Brugge and is now set to return to the Premier League as a far more polished attacker.
The move has been confirmed verbally between the clubs, and Club Brugge head coach Ivan Leko has all but announced it, saying Tzolis is leaving for "one of the biggest clubs in Europe". A formal offer from Arsenal is expected to be a formality, after which a medical and long-term contract will follow. Tzolis will replace Leandro Trossard, who moved to Besiktas earlier this summer.
“Arsenal are set to sign Christos Tzolis for £34m; here is the story behind his return to the Premier League.”
Tzolis originally moved to England as a teenager when Norwich signed him from PAOK for a reported fee of around £11 million in 2021. He struggled to adapt to the Premier League and spent time on loan at Twente, before joining Club Brugge permanently in 2024. There, he rediscovered his form, scoring 22 goals and providing 29 assists last season, and was named the league's best player.
For UK readers, this transfer is interesting on several levels. It shows how a player written off after a difficult spell can rebuild abroad and earn a second chance. It also highlights Arsenal's transfer strategy under sporting director Andrea Berta: they are adding depth with a versatile, in-form attacker while still pursuing a bigger-name forward like Julian Alvarez or Morgan Rogers. For fantasy football managers and fans, Tzolis represents a potential bargain if he can replicate his Belgian form in England.
Q: Why did Christos Tzolis fail at Norwich and why is he succeeding now? Tzolis joined Norwich in 2021 as a highly rated teenager but struggled with the physicality and pace of the Premier League, making only 14 league appearances without scoring. He then went on loan to Twente in the Netherlands, where he found consistency, and that form carried over to his permanent move to Club Brugge. At 24, he is now physically and mentally more mature, and has adapted his game to become a more direct, productive attacker.
Q: How will Tzolis fit into Arsenal's team? Tzolis primarily plays as a left winger but can also operate on the right or as an attacking midfielder. He is likely to provide competition for Gabriel Martinelli and could also be used as a rotation option in cup games and European matches. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta values versatility, and Tzolis's ability to play across the front line makes him a useful squad player even if he does not start every week.
Q: What other transfers are Arsenal working on this summer? Arsenal's priority target remains Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, though Barcelona and Real Madrid are also interested. They are also pushing to sign Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, who is valued at £130 million, and have an interest in Villa defender Ezri Konsa and Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix. The Tzolis deal is separate from the pursuit of a high-profile forward.
What happens next is largely procedural. Arsenal will formalise their bid, Tzolis will undergo a medical, and the contract will be signed. The club is then expected to intensify its efforts to sign Morgan Rogers once England's World Cup campaign ends. Meanwhile, Arsenal are also dealing with William Saliba's back injury, which has prompted interest in defensive reinforcements.
