Fabio Vieira has opened up about the fraught final days leading up to his exit from Arsenal. The Gunners were initially aiming to receive €20 million for the midfielder, but in the end, they agreed to sell him to Hamburg for approximately €10 million.
Having joined Arsenal from Porto in 2022 for €22 million, Vieira struggled to secure a regular spot in Mikel Arteta's plans. He spent the 2024/25 season on loan back at Porto, followed by a spell at Hamburg.
During his time in Germany, Vieira made an impact, scoring seven goals and providing six assists in 31 matches. Hamburg were keen to retain the player but were initially only willing to pay €9–10 million, while Arsenal held out for €20 million.
In a strategic move, the German club decided to wait until the end of the transfer window, a decision that ultimately paid off as Arsenal capitulated on deadline day, agreeing to a fee of around €10 million.
Reflecting on the process, Vieira revealed:
I felt really good here, and I think that was clear to everyone. The summer was challenging for me. I didn’t know for a long time where I would continue my career.
Everyone knew about my contract situation at Arsenal. In the end, I chose Hamburg. I had enjoyed last season here, relishing every moment, and realised it was the perfect place for me.
The last few days of negotiations proved particularly intense for the Portuguese player:
The last two or three days were especially tense. I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know how it would all turn out. But it ended well. Now I’m here, and I’m very happy about it.
In August, Hamburg’s sporting director Klaus Costa flew to London to push negotiations forward. Vieira confirmed that Costa's involvement was pivotal:
Klaus had a significant impact on the situation. He came to London, and we met to discuss everything openly.
We talked about the best way to make sure I ended up in Hamburg. At one point, it was out of my hands – it was down to the two clubs. They reached an agreement, and now I’m here.
This season, Vieira has featured in three matches for Hamburg, accumulating 152 minutes of play so far.
