Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira has opened up on his deadline day switch to HSV Hamburg and he’s made it clear he didn’t need long to make up his mind.
The 25-year-old was once again shipped out on loan this summer, this time joining Hamburg as part of a double deal that also saw Albert Sambi Lokonga head to the Bundesliga side. The move includes an option to buy, which already suggests Vieira’s long-term future at Arsenal is hanging by a thread.
Signed for €35m from Porto back in 2022, Vieira has struggled to cement a place in Mikel Arteta’s plans. The summer arrivals of Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze added further competition, leaving Vieira facing another season on the fringes if he stayed put.
Fabio Vieira on deadline day chaos
Speaking to MOPO, Vieira admitted that things moved fast on deadline day but said Hamburg immediately convinced him.
“It was a difficult time, of course, but we’re all professionals, we’re used to it,” he said about the uncertainty.
“It happened very quickly. I was convinced after the first conversation with the coach and the sporting director. I immediately had the feeling they wanted me here.”
Those words will sting a little for Arsenal fans, who saw flashes of his talent but never the consistency to make him undroppable.
Why Hamburg was the right choice for Fabio Vieira
For Hamburg, it’s a bold move, taking on a player who has struggled in England but still retains the technical quality that made Arsenal splash out in the first place. At 25, Vieira still has time to revive his career, and Hamburg will give him the game time Arsenal simply couldn’t guarantee.
For Arsenal, meanwhile, this is another reminder of how ruthless the club has become under Andrea Berta and Arteta. Vieira may have been a big investment, but sentiment doesn’t count when chasing Premier League glory.
