Fabio Vieira: who is Portuguese star signed by Arsenal, which position does he play and what was transfer fee?

Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira has signed for Arsenal.

The signing makes him Mikel Arteta’s second new player following Brazilian youngster Marquinhos.

After last year’s overhaul, with Arteta spending £140 million on the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel, Martin Odegaard and more, it seems as if it will be another heavy spending spree this summer.

The transfer intially came out of the blue, with the Vieira deal wrapped up on the same day it was reported.

With the arrival of the Porto star in London, we take a closer look at him, and why he is rated so highly.

Liga NOS, the league that Vieira has plyed his trade, has become somewhat of a goldmine for Europe’s elite recently.

Liverpool have signed both Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez for up to around £130 million combined, with Nunez potentially breaking Liverpool’s transfer budget.

What is the reported fee for Fabio Vieira?

For a club of Arsenal’s stature, a transfer of this magnitude can take some time, and be drawn out.

However, the Gunners skipped the painful transfer negotiations and activated Fabio Vieira’s release clause, which in pounds is reportedly £34 million.

With Arsenal missing out on Champions League football to bitter rivals Tottenham, despite once holding a 12-point-lead over their North London counterparts, it appears it hasn’t heavily impacted Arsenal’s transfer budget.

What are Fabio Vieira’s stats for the past season?

Arsenal were crying out for a playmaker to feed the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and more.

Martin Odegaard has proven a shrewd bit of business, but can not carry the playmaker mantle on his own. Enter, Fabio Vieira.

In the Portuguese top flight, Vieira this season scored six goals and got 14 assists, with the latter of the stats made even more impressive as he played just 27 times, averaging an assist around every other game.

How will he fit into the team?

With Odegaard firmly cementing his place in the team due to a good 2021/2022 season, it would seem that only one of Vieira or the Norweigan could make the team.

However, Vieira is more than good in the number eight role, allowing Odegaard to push on slightly.

With Arteta also favouring three in the midfield, he would play one of Granit Xhaka or Thomas Partey in the holding role.

Also, Vieira has a tendency to drift wide, giving Saka the freedom to cut inside more.

It is unclear how the midfield may operate if Arsenal signed Youri Tielemans from Leicester.

Are Arsenal close to signing anyone else?

Whilst the spending isn’t expected to exceed last season’s fees, probably because of their failure to secure Champions League football, expect some more incomings.

With Vieira confirmed, attention will now switch the Gabriel Jesus, with the Manchester City strike tailor made for Arsenal’s system, and would be guaranteed a start up front. City reported want around £50 million for the Brazilian.

And a name also linked with the club is Tielemans from Leicester, with the Foxes demanding around half of what City want for Jesus, but it is believed Jesus is the priority.