Albert Sambi Lokonga has already completed his medical with Hamburger SV ahead of his deadline-day permanent switch to the German club.
Ryan Taylor reports for the Mirror that Albert Sambi Lokonga has already completed a medical with Hamburg ahead of his deadline-day switch from Arsenal, with the midfielder set to leave the Gunners on a permanent basis.
Taylor had initially broken the news of Hamburg’s move for Lokonga, reporting that the Gunners are only expected to receive a modest fee for the Belgian international.
Lokonga’s contract expires next summer, and would have expired already if Arsenal hadn’t activated their option to extend it. Seemingly the only reason Arsenal did so was so they could get a fee for his departure.
Lokonga had also been followed by PAOK FC in Greece, with Giannis Chorianopoulos of Greek outlet Sportime previously reporting that the club were highly interested in the Belgian international.
PAOK had previously signed Chuba Akpom from Arsenal in 2018, with the striker going on to win a league and cup double in Greece.
But there was little progress on that front over the last few weeks, and it seems Hamburg have now successfully hijacked the transfer.
Lokonga has made 39 appearances for Arsenal since his 2021 transfer from RSC Anderlecht, the last of which was in January 2023. Loans to Crystal Palace, Luton Town, and Sevilla have followed.
The Belgian international did join the team on tour during pre-season this summer, but he didn’t make any appearances on the pitch, and he hasn’t been involved in the competitive fixtures so far.
It looks as though he’ll be joined at Hamburg by Fabio Vieira, who is reportedly making the same transfer but on an initial loan with an option to buy.