Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira seals Porto loan return before transfer deadline | OneFootball

No option or obligation to buy next summer has been included in the deal

The 24-year-old left the Portuguese giants for the Gunners two years ago for around £34.3million but has since struggled for consistent game time under Mikel Arteta.

He will now act as Francisco Conceicao’s replacement at Porto, with the Portugal international having been allowed to join Juventus on loan.

The imminent £32.6million arrival of Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad has increased competition for places in Arsenal’s midfield even further, as well as the emergence of academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri.

In total, Vieira has made 49 appearances for Arsenal to date, scoring three goals and registering nine assists in the process.

There will be no option or obligation for Porto to make the deal a permanent arrangement next summer, with Vieira - who has taken the No10 shirt at the Estadio do Dragao recently vacated by Conceicao - still under contract at Arsenal until the summer of 2027.

Vieira is the second player to leave Arsenal in the last 24 hours, with academy graduate Charlie Patino having joined Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna on Monday.

Striker Eddie Nketiah is expected to complete a £30m move to London rivals Crystal Palace, while Ajax, Bournemouth, Southampton and Wolves are all interested in Aaron Ramsdale.

Arsenal would need to sign a replacement goalkeeper if Ramsdale moved on, with Joan Garcia of Espanyol their preferred target.