Arsenal told exactly what to expect from Christos Tzolis as Club Brugge boss 'confirms' £33.8m transfer | OneFootball

Ivan Leko could only speak in superlatives about the Gunners’ £33.8m man

Club Brugge manager Ivan Leko said he will be ‘very sad’ to lose Christos Tzolis as he closes in on a transfer to Arsenal.

Standard Sport understands the prolific Greek winger is on track to join the Gunners in a £33.8m deal in the coming weeks, though the move has not yet been formalised.

Leko has all but confirmed the player’s departure, though.

Tzolis was nowhere to be seen as Club Brugge were beaten by Dutch side Heerenveen in a pre-season friendly on Friday afternoon and, asked to explain the Greek’s absence in a post-match interview, Leko revealed all.

Tzolis enjoyed a superb 2025/26 season in the Belgian Pro League, bagging 22 goals and assisting a remarkable 29 in all competitions. He will join Arsenal as a replacement for Leandro Trossard, who is Besiktas-bound.

Leko went on, explaining Arsenal had invested cleverly in a hard-working, dedicated player.

Christos Tzolis played the full 90 minutes as Arsenal beat Club Brugge 3-0 in the Champions League earlier this season

PA

“This is one fantastic example of somebody who was first coming on the training base, last staying there,” he went on.

“Every training was like game for him, giving so much for his career, and then you get the reward to sign for one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

“(It is a) big thing for him, big thing for Club Brugge, big thing for Belgian football. Good lesson for all young boys that we have, that in football you need to work. Stop the talk, work, try to do everything to improve yourself day by day, exactly what Christos was doing.

“I am convinced that he will have his minutes, that he will show some highest level in the Premier League and Champions League at Arsenal, and he will show that he is a top player and absolutely deserves to go and be there.”

Arsenal are expected to remain active in the transfer market even after Tzolis arrives. They still hold a keen interest in Morgan Rogers and seem set to intensivy their pursuit of the player following England’s World Cup campaign. A centre-back may also arrive as William Saliba considers surgery on a back injury.