Arsenal must create space in Premier League squad after Fabio Vieira transfer

Fabio Vieira’s imminent arrival at Arsenal is likely to have consequences for a number of first-team players before the summer transfer window closes.

It has already been announced by Porto that a deal that could rise to €40m (£34m) has been agreed with the Gunners for the signing of the Portugal U21 international which means all that remains is for the midfielder to complete a medical and put pen-to-paper on a five-year deal.

Once the formalities are sorted, Vieira will become Arsenal’s second confirmed signing of the summer transfer window – after Brazilian youngster Marquinhos – although he’s not expected to be the last with the club linked with moves for Gabriel Jesus, Youri Tielemans and Raphinha just to name a few.

READ MORE:Arsenal supporters can create the perfect song for Fabio Vieira after £34m transfer is sealed

With Matt Turner’s move to be announced before the end of the month, in the scenario that Arsenal also sign Vieira, Gabriel Jesus, Youri Tielemans, Aaron Hickey and Raphinha before deadline day, would they be able to adhere to Premier League rules at the same time?

The Gunners and the other 19 Premier League teams will be permitted to name a 25-man squad after the summer transfer window closes at the beginning of September. From which no more than 17 overseas players can be named with the remaining eight places available to homegrown members of the squad.

To be considered home-grown, players need to have been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Welsh FA for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).

Unlike Marquinhos, Vieira would take up a non-homegrown spot in Arsenal’s 25-man Premier League squad for next season as he can’t be registered as an Under-21 player who would be eligible throughout the campaign as his birth date (May 30, 2000) is not on or after January 1, 2001.

Now, taking the Gunners’ planned summer transfer activity into account and it’s effectively a guarantee that at least four first-team players will be moved on – otherwise, they risk not being registered in the Premier League squad for next season.

As things stand – and not including potential sales or arrivals – Bernd Leno, Alex Runarsson, Pablo Mari, Cedric Soares, Auston Trusty, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Magalhaes, Nuno Tavares, Kieran Tierney, Lucas Torreira, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nicolas Pepe make up the 16 overseas Arsenal players at Mikel Arteta’s disposal.

Therefore if Turner, Vieira, Gabriel Jesus, Tielemans, Hickey and Raphinha were to all join the club, five would be classed as overseas players taking the total up to 21 thus leaving Arteta in a situation where he’d need to leave four senior players out to meet the requirement of no more than 17.

Now, Arsenal should have no issue meeting that demand as Leno is likely to leave, plans are in place for Trusty to join a European club on loan, Pepe is seeking a move away, Tavares has been linked with a loan exit whilst Mari, Torreira and Runarsson have no future at the club and are free to leave.

In the event that all seven senior players were to be either sold or loaned out this summer, it would leave the Gunners with eight non-homegrown spots to fill in their 25-man Premier League squad for the 2022/23 season.

As a result, Vieira’s imminent arrival won’t impact those plans, meanwhile, Turner can take Leno’s place once the German departs. But amid interest in Gabriel Jesus and Tielemans two senior players would have to leave and another to create space for Raphinha’s potential signing in order for Arsenal to avoid any registration issues.