Transfer Centre

Oleksandr Zinchenko pictured in Arsenal kit ahead of £30m transfer

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 20 July 2022

Oleksandr Zinchenko is spotted in Orlando wearing Arsenal's training kit ahead of completing his £30m transfer from Manchester City.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been spotted in Orlando wearing Arsenal's training kit ahead of completing his transfer from Manchester City.

The Gunners are understood to have reached an agreement with the Premier League champions to sign the 25-year-old for an initial £30m with a further £2m in add-ons.

Zinchenko has also agreed personal terms on a four-year contract at the Emirates Stadium and is set to reunite with former Citizens assistant coach Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal are currently based in Orlando on their pre-season tour of the USA, while City are also in the States preparing for the new season, with Pep Guardiola's squad currently located in Houston.

Zinchenko has now left City's squad and flew to Orlando on Wednesday to undergo his medical ahead of finalising his transfer to Arsenal.

Zinchenko in Arsenal kit in Orlando🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/syirmZ1JjO
— Tkachmaz_24 (@Arsenalmaan) July 20, 2022

While Arsenal are yet to confirm the Ukrainian's arrival, it is seemingly only a matter of time before an announcement is made after a video emerged on social media of the versatile left-back walking to the club's training base while wearing the club's training kit.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday morning (GMT) ahead of Man City friendly encounter with Club America, Guardiola confirmed that Zinchenko was able to 'say goodbye' to the rest of the squad.

"Zinchenko, like Gabriel [Jesus] and Raheem [Sterling], the impact of these three players has been massive, incredible people and exceptional players, they move on," said the Spaniard. "Chelsea and Arsenal are incredible clubs, I'm happy for the success they'll have there."

"It was nice yesterday with Oleks because we could say bye properly. Unfortunately with Raheem and Gabriel we could not do it because it was the summer time, but with Oleks we had dinner together, we could say bye to him and move on to Arsenal."

Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko applauds fans on March 1, 2022 © Reuters

City are set to make a significant profit on Zinchenko, who they signed from Russian club FC Ufa for just £1.8m in the summer of 2016.

Zinchenko is now set to leave the Etihad Stadium after six trophy-laden years at the club, winning 11 pieces of silverware including four Premier League titles and four EFL Cups.

The 52-cap Ukraine international has made 127 appearances for City across all competitions, scoring twice and registering 12 assists.

However, Zinchenko was restricted to just 10 Premier League starts last season, with Joao Cancelo preferred ahead of him at left-back on most occasions by Guardiola.

Zinchenko will now be looking to gain regular first-team football at Arsenal under Arteta at either left-back or in centre-midfield, and he could potentially make his competitive debut for the Gunners in their Premier League opener away at Crystal Palace on August 5.