Jorginho has emerged as a shock transfer target for Arsenal, with a deal moving swiftly and now an official announcement is imminent on the move, but why have Arsenal gone in for the Chelsea man?
He’s been playing at the top level for a number of years and has been instrumental in his club side and international side winning major honours, although given he’s in the twilight years of his career, the move has left plenty of people scratching their heads as it doesn’t seem to nod to any clear recruitment strategy.
However, one key factor has been overlooked in the people sceptical of the move, and that is the admiration for the player that comes from the manager. Mikel Arteta appears to be a huge fan of the Italian.
Jorginho to leave Chelsea for Arsenal
According to Fabrizio Romano, all that is left now is the official announcement as the Italian has passed the medical tests and is set to sign the contract with terms agreed with his new club in the capital.
The deal is rumoured to be around £10 million, with £2 million in add ons in a deal that will tie him to the Emirates until June 2024, with an option to extend until 2025. Given his age and recent decline from the elite level he was at, a short-term contract seems the most obvious for The Gunners.
Arsenal are strengthening and adding depth to their ranks as they look to ensure there’s no drop off in form as they hunt another league title, their first for almost two decades. But why Jorginho now?
Video: Mikel Arteta with Jorginho in 2020
Back in 2020 after a clash at Stamford Bridge, Arteta was in high spirits whilst chatting with Jorginho who was responding in a similar manner, so looking back on that now, there was clearly mutual respect already.
Journalist Sam Dean has also reported that: “Jorginho is an opportunistic signing by Arsenal but it’s worth noting that Mikel Arteta is a long-time admirer. Arsenal tried to sign Jorginho in 2020, and Arteta was at City when they wanted him in 2018. In 2019, Arteta told Marca that he loves a ‘Jorginho type’ of midfielder.”
So despite it appearing to be a strange signing out of the blue, the Italian is clearly someone that Arteta is incredibly keen on working with.