Report: Midfielder undergoing medical ahead of deadline day switch

It’s been a really busy transfer window for Arsenal and deadline day is set to be a busy one too!

Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga is closing in on a permanent transfer to Hamburg, with journalist Ryan Taylor reporting that the deal is being finalised ahead of the deadline. The Belgian has already undergone his medical in Germany and is expected to be confirmed as a new signing today.

Lokonga joined Arsenal from Anderlecht in the summer of 2021 for around £15million. Signed as a long-term midfield option, he showed early promise under Mikel Arteta but never managed to establish himself as a regular starter. Loan spells at Crystal Palace and Luton Town followed, yet a breakthrough at the Emirates never materialised.

With just one year left on his Arsenal contract, the Gunners were always likely to sanction a permanent exit this summer. Although the exact financial details have not been disclosed, it is reasonable to expect a fee in the region of £5million given his contract situation. That figure would represent a significant loss on their initial outlay, but Arsenal are prioritising squad balance and ensuring they do not lose players for free in 2026.

For Hamburg, Lokonga offers a midfield profile that can help dictate possession and bring stability in the centre of the pitch. At 25, there is still plenty of time for the Belgian to rediscover the form that once saw him tipped as a future star for both club and country.

This deal is set to be one of several moves Arsenal push through on deadline day, with exits for Jakub Kiwior, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson and Oleksandr Zinchenko also under discussion. Lokonga’s switch to Germany will be among the first to be completed, ending his three-year spell in North London and giving him a fresh platform to rebuild his career.

In terms of incomings, it looks like Piero Hincapie will be the eighth and final signing for the Gunners.