Kiwior Bids Arsenal Goodbye as He Joins Porto for Good
Arsenal have now made it official — Jakub Kiwior has completed his permanent move to Porto.
The Polish defender, who joined us from Spezia back in January 2023, leaves after 68 appearances in all competitions. It was never really a surprise. He headed out on loan to Porto last September with an obligation to buy, and once they won the Primeira Liga title , they pulled the trigger on the deal. Porto paid around £14.7 million upfront with up to another £4.3 million in add-ons. We’ve kept a £1.7 million sell-on clause, which is decent business.
Kiwior was one of those players who never really complained. He knew his role in the squad (cover at centre-back and left-back) and he got on with it. We saw many glances at world class quality, especially in the Champions League. Those two performances against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last season were probably his best moments in an Arsenal shirt. He looked composed, read the game well, and didn’t look out of place at all against that level of opposition.
He also picked up a Community Shield winners’ medal in 2023. His standout performances came in the Champions League, where those displays against Real Madrid really stood out.
Why the move made sense
Let’s be honest regular first-team football, even for a player of his quality, was always going to be tough for him here. With Saliba and Gabriel locked in at centre-back, Calafiori and MLS fighting it out at left-back, and now Hincapié making his move permanent, the competition at the back is fierce. Kiwior is still only 26 and clearly wanted to play week in, week out. Porto gave him that chance and he grabbed it with both hands.
For us, it’s clean business. We’ve freed up a squad spot, brought in a player who can do a similar job in Hincapié, and we’re not losing out financially. The sell-on clause is a nice little safety net too.
What it means for the defence this season
Our backline looks in good shape heading into pre-season. Hincapié’s arrival gives Arteta even more flexibility — he can play left-back or centre-back and he’s already shown he can handle the Premier League. Losing Kiwior doesn’t weaken us. If anything, it shows the squad is evolving in the right way.
Kiwior was a proper professional during his time with us. He never kicked up a fuss when he wasn’t starting, trained hard, and stepped up when he was needed. You can’t ask for much more than that from a squad player.
We wish him all the best at Porto. He’s got a four-year deal there and they’ve put a big release clause in his contract, so they clearly rate him highly. It’s a good move for him and, on balance, a sensible one for us too. After winning Primeira Liga in his first season with Porto we strongly believe he will continue to make an impact.