Albert Sambi Lokonga is expected to complete a medical in London shortly, after Arsenal finally reached an agreement over a fee for his transfer with just a ‘few details’ left to sort.
Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad report that Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Albert Sambi Lokonga, and he is expected to complete a medical shortly. This follows from similar reports last week.
Their headline reads, “Anderlecht left on stage without Albert Sambi Lokonga: millions transfer to Arsenal almost complete.”
The player will travel to London while the clubs sort out the final details. The Belgian publication add that Sambi Lokonga is expected to be announced as an Arsenal player this week.
As Belgium is currently an amber list country, Sambi Lokonga will be expected to return a negative covid test before travelling to the UK and then to quarantine at the place he is staying for 10 days. This can be cut to five days by returning a second and third negative test, as we’ve seen with Nuno Tavares.
Negotiations for Sambi Lokonga began some time ago, and an agreement has now been reached for a fee in the region of €17.5m, rising to as much as €22m with potential bonuses.
Nieuwsblad reported previously that Sambi Lokonga will sign a five-year deal to 2026, confirming the €17.5m initial fee but claiming potential bonuses total €4m.
Sambi Lokonga had recently returned to Belgium following his holiday, but the midfielder did not join in with training at Anderlecht on Monday as he is “expected for his medical examination at Arsenal in London.”
The final main detail to agree in the transfer was reportedly the sell-on percentage, but Sky Sports (via VoetbalKrant) reported late last week that ‘hands were shaken’ at 5%. That was the compromise the two clubs reached after Anderlecht wanted 15% and Arsenal wanted 0%.
Sambi Lokonga made 37 appearances for Anderlecht this season, as well as a few for the Belgium u21s. He was on the fringes of the Belgium Euro 2020 squad, but he narrowly missed out when Axel Witsel returned to fitness just in time.