Jakub Kiwior’s Porto move — waiting on Arsenal’s next signing

There’s a short, almost cinematic pause in Jakub Kiwior’s career right now. Everything looks lined up: Porto want him, Arsenal seem willing to let him go, and the paperwork — supposedly — is nearly done. But one small, obvious hinge remains: Arsenal have to find a replacement first. And that, as often happens in football transfers, is making the whole thing slow and a little uncertain.

I’ll try to lay this out plainly: Porto have shown clear interest in Kiwior. Arsenal and Porto have reportedly agreed terms for a deal, which could give the 25‑year‑old the regular minutes he’s been after. Yet the move is conditional. Arsenal are hunting a defender of their own — most strongly linked to Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen — and until that replacement arrives, Kiwior’s exit is effectively on hold.

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Why Porto want Kiwior

Porto’s interest isn’t random. They’ve been tidy about adding flexible defenders in recent windows. Kiwior ticks several boxes: he’s comfortable at centre‑back, can play at left‑back when needed, and he’s still young enough to develop further. From Porto’s point of view, he’d slot into a squad that wants depth and adaptability — especially with European competition and a busy domestic schedule.

The manager there, Francesco Farioli, seems to want options in central defense even though Porto already brought in Jan Bednarek. You don’t ever really have “too many” quality defenders if you’re aiming to juggle a lot of games, and Kiwior provides that kind of utility. Reports even suggest a loan with an obligation to buy has been discussed — so it’s not just a short‑term patch; Porto appear to see him as a medium‑term investment.

Why Arsenal are cautious — and why that matters

Arsenal’s hesitation is straightforward business sense. Letting Kiwior go without a clear replacement would remove defensive cover and reduce tactical flexibility. Mikel Arteta’s squad is competitive but fragile in places; losing a multi‑position player like Kiwior without signing someone in return feels risky.

That’s where Piero Hincapié comes in. Arsenal have reportedly put him at the top of their list. If they can pull him from Bayer Leverkusen, the pathway opens for Kiwior. If they can’t — or if talks stall — Arsenal will likely keep Kiwior around rather than weaken the group. It’s a classic domino effect in transfers: one deal can only move when another does.

There’s also an element I find interesting: Kiwior has been useful for Arsenal but never fully cemented a starting spot. He’s shown flashes, he’s made over 50 appearances, scored goals, and assisted. Yet he’s still largely seen as a squad player. Maybe that’s frustrating for him. Players at that stage — good enough to matter, not yet guaranteed starters — are often the most mobile in transfer windows.

A small aside: when you read club-to-club agreements are “finalised”, it’s worth a little skepticism. Often it means the principals have a common understanding and the finer points remain — wages, medicals, timing, conditional clauses. So even if Arsenal and Porto have nodded at a structure, the final green light is tied to Arsenal’s incoming business. Little things matter.

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What Kiwior likely wants (and why it matters to the story)

At 25, a player wants minutes. That’s obvious, I know. But for him personally, consistent playing time could be the difference between stagnation and a real step forward. He joined Arsenal in January 2023 for around €20 million from Spezia. Since then, he’s showed potential but played more of a rotational role. You can tell a player like him — adaptable and still growing — will prefer a stable role where he’s counted on week in, week out.

Porto can offer that. They could give him a clearer role and European exposure. For career growth and visibility, that’s attractive. So the move makes sense for all parties, in principle. It’s just the timing that’s awkward.

The practicalities ahead

Two main things will determine the next few days:

• Can Arsenal land their preferred replacement (Hincapié or another comparable centre‑back)? If yes, Kiwior moves.
• Will Porto and Arsenal finalise the exact terms — loan length, obligation to buy, medicals, and wages? Even with agreement on principle, the paperwork can take a few more turns.

There’s also a personal element for Kiwior: the psychological pause. He’s waiting on a decision that’s partly out of his hands. I imagine that’s uncomfortable — perhaps a little maddening. But it’s also common in top‑tier football. Players get caught in waves of negotiation and timing; often they just have to be patient.

To be candid, this feels like a standard transfer saga with one familiar twist: a selling club refusing to let a player go until they’ve replaced him. It’s sensible, if not particularly romantic. Still, the human side lingers — the player, wanting minutes; the buying club, needing reinforcements; and the selling club, balancing squad needs with financial and sporting plans.

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If Arsenal do secure Hincapié (or another target) soon, expect Kiwior to make the move to Porto quickly. If they don’t, Kiwior stays put, and the whole sequence repeats the next time the window opens. Either way, it’s one of those small but telling stories about how one transfer can depend on another — a little domino effect that nudges club plans around Europe.