Club have avoided paying Arsenal £600,000 ‘penalty fee’ but they’re still set for disappointment

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Arsenal are often criticised for the way they handle departures.

The Gunners are terrible sellers, and the way they have handled a few loan spells over the years hasn’t been great either.

However, when Edu Gaspar sent Fabio Vieira on loan to Porto last summer, the former Arsenal sporting director included one very interesting clause.

Arsenal could’ve made a six-figure sum if that stipulation had not been met, but that is not going to happen.

Porto avoid paying Arsenal £600,000 ‘penalty’ in Fabio Vieira loan deal

Porto signed Vieira on loan last summer in a deal that surprised many Arsenal fans.

The Gunners had lost Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham on a permanent transfer, and Vieira was the only experienced backup available to Martin Odegaard in the squad.

Mikel Arteta later revealed that Vieira was sent out on loan to give Ethan Nwaneri more opportunities, and that was good to hear.

The terms of the Portuguese midfielder’s loan were a straight £750,000 fee plus a clause that would’ve triggered a £600,000 ‘penalty fee’ if Vieira was not given game time in half of Porto’s games, reports The Sun.

The 25-year-old ended up playing 39 games for the club in all competitions and missed just six. Porto will not have to pay Arsenal a penalty now as a result.

Vieira was one of Porto’s best players last season, and he will play for them in the upcoming Club World Cup as well. Once that happens, a decision will have to be made on his future.

READ MORE: Rating every Arsenal loan player in the 2024/25 season, including Fabio Vieira

Porto set for disappointment as Arsenal set Fabio Vieira transfer fee

It is difficult to see a future for Vieira at Arsenal.

The 25-year-old is definitely a talented player, and he is more than capable of becoming a star for a club. However, Arsenal already have Martin Odegaard and Nwaneri, and with Max Dowman coming through, there is no need for the Portuguese midfielder.

The Sun claims that the Gunners are ‘demanding close to the same fee they paid for him’ – Arsenal struck a £34 million deal to sign Vieira in 2022.

Porto are really keen to re-sign the versatile midfielder, but the report claims that the Portuguese giants are set for disappointment as they will not be able to meet Arsenal’s demands this summer.

All signs point towards Vieira returning to the Emirates Stadium after the Club World Cup. It will be interesting to see what Andrea Berta will do with him then.