Arsenal have announced the signing of Nuno Tavares from Benfica and he will wear the number 20.

Nuno Tavares Arsenal
Nuno Tavares via Arsenal

Arsenal have completed the signing of 21-year-old Nuno Tavares from Benfica on a five-year deal.

The player is expected to cost Arsenal €8m in an initial fee with an additional €2m in bonuses (£6.68m + £1.71m), a total fee that comes in below what was initially being reported.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1413792691167563777?s=09

Manager Mikel Arteta said: “We welcome Nuno to the club. He is a young player with great promise who has developed very well with Benfica in recent seasons and has also shown his quality by being part of Portugal Under-21s. Nuno’s arrival will give the squad extra strength and options in defence, particularly with this energy on the left side of the pitch. We look forward to Nuno’s arrival soon, his integration into the Arsenal family and playing in front of our fantastic supporters.”

Technical director Edu said: “Nuno is a talented young player who was wanted by a number of clubs across Europe. He will provide strong back-up in the left-back position. We look forward to him growing and developing with us and becoming an important member of the first-team squad.”

According to transfermarkt, Nuno Tavares is valued at £6.3m. He had three years left on his Benfica contract.

Arsenal and Nuno Tavares have reportedly agreed a five year deal. Given his age, this would fit with the new deals Arsenal have given out recently, which seem to fit the following pattern (with obvious room for exceptions):

  • Under 25 – 5 years
  • 25 – 29 – 4 years
  • 30+ – 3 years

Arsenal also seem to be imposing something of a wage structure again after the last few years when they just randomly threw large amounts of cash at whoever wanted it.

As such, age seems to play a role in what you get offered, especially if you are under 23.

At Benfica, Tavares earned £4,900-per-week.

Looking at his age and similar-aged players Arsenal have signed to new deals recently, Tavares will likely be on a contract worth between £20k and £40kpw.

We currently pay Matteo Guendouzi, William Saliba and, unbelievably, Alex Runarsson £40kpw to do nothing.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Gabriel get £35kpw, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli both got payrises to £30kpw while Emile Smith Rowe, currently on £20k, will see his salary rise with his new deal, when het gets round to signing it.

Konastinos Mavropanos also earns £25kpw to play for Stuttgart, although who pays most of that is not clear.

9 July 2021

Nuno Tavares is finally at London Colney as he looks to put the finishing touches on his transfer from Benfica to Arsenal.

15th January 2021 Dragao Stadium, Porto, Portugal - Portuguese Championship 2020/2021, FC Porto versus Benfica - Nuno Tavares of Benfica. Photo: Daniel Castro
15th January 2021 Dragao Stadium, Porto, Portugal – Portuguese Championship 2020/2021, FC Porto versus Benfica – Nuno Tavares of Benfica. Photo: Daniel Castro

Charles Watts reports that Nuno Tavares has finally arrived at London Colney following his isolation period in London. Watts adds that Arsenal are hoping to get everything done with his signing in time for him to join next week’s training camp in Scotland.

As we’d already heard, Tavares held his physical tests and medical examinations in Lisbon before travelling to England. He was then forced to quarantine for five days upon arrival in London, at which point he could be released with a negative Covid test.

A Bola reported last week that Mikel Arteta has already welcomed the player to Arsenal, speaking to him on the phone after the transfer was agreed. But they’ll now get the chance to meet up in person, along with the rest of Tavares’ new teammates.

Tavares will join for €8m plus €2m in add-ons, and he’s expected to act as a backup left-back to Kieran Tierney when Sead Kolasinac leaves. He’ll join on a four-year deal with a club option for an additional 12 months.

Reports suggest Tavares’ add-ons are based on making a certain number of appearances for Arsenal, receiving a senior Portugal cap and the Gunners qualifying for the Champions League.