Arsenal loanee scores again but no plans to activate buy option

Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira scored another winner for HSV over the weekend, but the German media continue to suggest his purchase option won’t be activated.

Fabio Vieira of Hamburger SV reacts during the Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and 1. FC Köln at Volksparkstadion on March 14, 2026 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) — Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Arsenal’s Fabio Vieira has been in good form lately, and he showed it again with an excellent winning goal away to Frankfurt over the weekend.

With the two sides level at 1-1 in the 59th minute, having hit the crossbar with a shot from distance earlier in the game, Vieira exchanged passes with former Gunner Albert Sambi Lokonga before racing into the penalty area.

Albert Gronbaek found Vieira with a ball over the top, and Vieira controlled the pass with his chest before firing in a low finish for 2-1.

The goal ended up earning HSV the three points, and any lingering fears of relegation are now at an end. The German club sit eight points clear of the drop with just two games remaining.

Fabio Vieira of Hamburger SV celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and FC Bayern München at Volksparkstadion on January 31, 2026 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images) — Photo by Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images

Given Vieira’s strong recent form and his positive performances throughout the season, you’d be forgiven for assuming that HSV might activate their option to buy the Arsenal loanee.

But German outlet Bild report that HSV will only be able to offer Arsenal a fraction of the €22m buy option they agreed last summer.

Bild suggest Vieira’s future remains open, but it seems there’s little to no chance that a transfer will take place without serious negotiation first.

Fabio Vieira of Hamburger SV shoots during the Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and FC Bayern München at Volksparkstadion on January 31, 2026 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images) — Photo by Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images

If HSV can’t afford €22m, Arsenal’s best option is probably just to take the player back and look elsewhere. As mentioned, the player has shown strong recent form, and he has 12 goal contributions for the season so far.

Vieira has either scored or assisted against six of the Bundesliga’s top-eight teams this season (Bayern, Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Stuttgart, Hoffenheim, and now Frankfurt). The only two he hasn’t scored or assisted against are Leverkusen and Freiburg, HSV’s final two opponents of this season!

There should be plenty of interest in Vieira this summer, and it’s really solely HSV’s problem if they can’t afford to be in the race.

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