Arsenal’s latest marquee signing, Viktor Gyokeres, has shattered the club’s shirt sales record following his blockbuster move from Sporting Lisbon, according to Daily Mail.
After weeks of intense back-and-forth, the Gunners finally unveiled the Swedish striker on Saturday in a deal valued at £64 million.
The announcement sent waves of excitement through the fanbase, further amplified by a stylish unveiling video confirming Gyokeres would inherit the iconic No. 14 shirt, famously worn by Thierry Henry.
While early expectations leaned towards Gyokeres opting for the No. 9 jersey, currently held by Gabriel Jesus, the 26-year-old later expressed his desire to emulate the legendary Frenchman by donning the historic number.
In celebration of their new frontman, Arsenal launched a limited-time promotion offering free shirt printing of Gyokeres’ name and number for the upcoming season, a service that would normally cost £16.
The campaign triggered a surge in fan demand, with supporters racing to stores and the club’s website to grab the offer before Thursday’s deadline.
Such was the level of traffic that the club’s website temporarily crashed, with early figures already indicating Gyokeres’ shirt has outpaced sales of any previous new signing in the club’s recent history.
The numbers are expected to climb further before the promotional window closes.
Prior to Gyokeres’ arrival, fan-favourites like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard had dominated shirt sales.
Rising star Myles Lewis-Skelly also caught attention among supporters, largely due to his symbolic No. 49 shirt, a tribute to Arsenal’s historic unbeaten run under Arsène Wenger.
Arsenal’s need for a reliable No. 9 has been a persistent issue, with previous options like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus failing to fully convince.
The hope now is that Gyokeres will end that search. His extraordinary return of 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting Lisbon placed him at the top of many clubs’ wishlists this summer.
Arsenal beat off stiff competition, including a strong push from Manchester United, to secure the powerful Swede.
Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his delight over the weekend, saying, “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Viktor Gyokeres to the club.The consistency he has shown in his performances and availability have been outstanding, and his goal contributions speak for themselves.”
