Arsenal sold Jakub Kiwior to Porto for €20 million after their league triumph.
Central defender Jakub Kiwior is set to join Porto on a long-term basis after his outstanding performances, which played a major role in helping Francesco Farioli's team win the Primeira Liga title in the 2025/26 season.
The race for the Portuguese Primeira Liga title in the 2025/26 season has concluded with a dramatic outcome, as Porto officially clinched the championship two rounds early. In this achievement, center-back Jakub Kiwior – currently on loan from Arsenal – emerged as a key player, making him a top transfer target for "The Dragons".
A dramatic scenario and Porto's dominance.
A narrow 1-0 victory over Alverca, thanks to the sole goal from Jan Bednarek, helped Porto reach 85 points, officially becoming the new champions. Notably, this was the first season under 37-year-old coach Francesco Farioli, and also saw President Andre Villas-Boas beat his former mentor Jose Mourinho in the title race.
Although Jose Mourinho's Benfica maintained an unbeaten record after 32 matches, they still had to settle for second place due to too many draws. Meanwhile, Porto showed their mettle in crucial moments, with excellent stability from their defense, with Kiwior as the key figure.
Jakub Kiwior's impressive professional statistics.
In the crucial match against Alverca, despite only playing 45 minutes, Jakub Kiwior displayed near-perfect defensive skills. The 26-year-old's statistics were truly impressive to football experts:
- Passing the ball:Achieved a 100% accuracy rate (31/31 passes), including 2/2 successful long passes.
- Defense:7 interceptions, 5 tackles, and won 8 out of 14 duels.
- Personal skills:Absolutely do not let the opponent dribble past you even once.
Throughout the season, the Polish international made 37 appearances in all competitions. Unlike his time as a substitute or playing out of position at Arsenal, at Porto, Kiwior was given absolute trust by coach Farioli in the role of left-sided center-back, becoming a cornerstone in the build-up play from the back.
A bargain of 20 million euros and a future in Portugal.
With his brilliant form, transfer expert Nicolo Schira confirms Porto are finalizing the last procedures to activate the buyout clause for Kiwior from Arsenal. The transfer fee has been set at a certain figure.20 million euros, accompanied by a contract valid until the summer of 2030.
From an economic standpoint, Arsenal earned a reasonable amount of money to reinvest. However, for Porto, this is considered a real "bargain." They acquire an international center-back who is at the peak of his career and played a key role in winning the national championship after a four-year wait.
The decision to leave North London in search of more regular playing opportunities helped Kiwior rediscover his former glory. From a backup option, he rose to become a champion and an indispensable part of Porto's squad for many years to come.
