Lookman vs Tzolis: 3 reasons Arsenal chose Greek winger over Super Eagles star

Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis in a deal worth €40 million (£34 million), strengthening Mikel Arteta’s attack ahead of the new season, Afrik-Foot reports.

The transfer is expected to become a record sale for the Belgian Pro League while also making Tzolis the most expensive Greek footballer in history. The 24-year-old is now preparing to travel to London for his medical before signing a long-term contract believed to run for at least five years.

The move gathered speed after Arsenal completed the sale of Belgian winger Leandro Trossard to Turkish club Besiktas in a deal worth around €20 million. With Trossard gone, Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta quickly identified Tzolis as the player to fill the vacant role on the left side of Arsenal’s attack.

Tzolis arrives after an outstanding campaign with Belgian champions Club Brugge. He scored 22 goals and provided 29 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions, numbers that placed him among Europe’s most productive attacking players.

Interestingly, long before Arsenal’s interest in Tzolis, the Gunners had closely monitored Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman and admired his performances in Serie A. So why did the North London club eventually choose Tzolis instead?

Arsenal admired Lookman but circumstances changed

Fenerbahçe-linked Lookman was one of Arsenal’s leading attacking targets before he completed his move to Atlético Madrid in February 2026.

The Super Eagles star had become a prominent forward in Europe’s after helping Atalanta win the UEFA Europa League with a famous hat-trick in the 2024 final before being crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year.

His ability to play on either wing, as a second striker or through the middle made him an attractive option for Arteta, whose system demands versatile attackers capable of changing positions during matches.

Despite that interest, Arsenal never made a formal breakthrough in negotiations.

Atalanta reportedly valued Lookman at around €50 million during 2025, while several major European clubs, including Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, were also monitoring the Nigerian international.

At the same time, Arsenal were unable to create enough room in their squad. Club officials wanted to sell players on the left wing before investing heavily in another attacker, but those departures did not happen quickly enough.

That delay proved costly. Atlético Madrid moved first, signing Lookman in February for a package worth about €40 million, including add-ons, on a contract running until 2030. Any realistic chance of Arsenal signing him disappeared once Diego Simeone secured his signature.

Ironically, Lookman later faced Arsenal during Atlético Madrid’s UEFA Champions League semi-final clash with the Gunners, and showed once again the qualities the Premier League side had admired in him.

Why Tzolis became Arsenal’s perfect solution

Although Lookman is widely regarded as the more established player, Arsenal believed Tzolis offered a better fit for their current project.

The biggest factor was age. At 24, Tzolis is four years younger than the 28-year-old Lookman, giving Arsenal a player who could develop further while remaining part of Arteta’s young core for many seasons.

His statistics also strengthened the London club’s confidence. During the 2025-26 campaign, Tzolis finished with a comebined 51 goals+assists, an exceptional output through creativity from the left wing. Lookman, who spent the season between Atalanta and Atlético Madrid, registered 12 goals and seven assists.

The two players also offer different styles. Lookman is known for his explosive pace, quick dribbling and direct running at defenders. He thrives during counter-attacks and often looks to finish moves himself.

Tzolis, meanwhile, prefers to stay wide before cutting inside onto his stronger right foot. He creates chances consistently, delivers dangerous crosses and helps control possession in the final third. Those qualities closely match the role previously played by Trossard under Arteta.

Financially, the transfer was also much easier. Instead of entering another complicated battle for Lookman, who was already tied to Atlético Madrid on a long-term contract, Arsenal secured Tzolis through a straightforward €40 million agreement with Club Brugge.

The signing is not expected to affect Arsenal’s pursuit of other attacking targets, with the club still interested in strengthening its forward line further.

Overall, the move is not a reflection of Lookman’s quality. The Super Eagles star remains an elite attacker with an outstanding career. But for Arsenal’s current tactical needs, squad planning and long-term vision, Tzolis emerged as the player who ticked the most boxes.