Vieira’s first words as Arsenal’s £34million signing makes promise to fans

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Creative midfielder Fabio Vieira, 22, becomes Mikel Arteta’s second signing of the summer – after the club announced the arrival of promising Brazilian Marquinhos

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Fabio Vieira has promised to “work, work, work” after completing his £34million move to Arsenal.

The signing of the Portuguese — nicknamed El Maestro Del Pase, the Goal Assist Master, in his homeland after racking up 16 assists for Porto last season — was confirmed by the Gunners on Friday. And he said: “I was always happy at Porto but this chance is important for any professional.

“Playing in the Premier League won’t be easy and I promise only to work, work, work. My agent worked on the deal between the two clubs and I accepted the deal because it was important for all parties. I have always watched the Premier League on TV.”

Super-agent Jorge Mendes brokered the deal between Arsenal and Porto, with 22-year-old Vieira putting pen to paper on a five-year contract at the Emirates. The player, who had also attracted interest from Liverpool and Leicester, had been holidaying on the Greek island of Mykonos but flew to London to complete his medical and the paperwork.

Arsenal will pay £30m upfront with a further £4m in performance-related add-ons. Porto announced an agreement had been struck between the two clubs on Friday.

A statement from the Portuguese side said: “Futebol Clube do Porto – Futebol, SAD, under the terms of article 248 n1 of the Securities Code, hereby informs the market that it has reached an agreement with Arsenal FC for the assignment, on a definitive basis, of the sports registration rights of professional football player Fabio Vieira for 40M (forty million euros), of which 5M (five million euros) are dependent on the achievement of sporting objectives.

“It is further informed that the final agreement is still being finalized and is expected to be implemented in the next few days. The Board of Directors.”

The 22-year-old is an exciting prospect and follows the acquisition of Brazilian forward Marquinhos as Arteta looks to strengthen his squad this summer. The midfielder has made 27 appearances in the Portuguese top flight last season, recording an impressive 14 assists and six goals to boot, adding to the creativity department at Arsenal.

Vieira has made 21 appearances for Portugal at Under-21 level and joined Porto’s academy as a child back in 2008. He then burst onto the senior scene in the 2020/21 campaign. He made 23 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals, after plying his trade with Porto B in the second tier.

But it was only this season when he clearly attracted Arsenal’s attention, putting in 39 appearances in all competitions to help his boyhood side win the league-cup double. He was named on the bench as Porto faced Liverpool twice in the Champions League group stage and made a substitute appearance in the 5-1 defeat by the Reds back in September.