Several former Arsenal players have been on the move this summer, with the number expected to rise very soon.
Perhaps the shock of the summer from an Arsenal point of view was seeing Granit Xhaka sign for Sunderland.
Two years after leaving the Gunners, Xhaka will return to the Emirates to face Arsenal in the 2025/26 season.
The Swiss midfielder’s move made the headlines, and now, it’s expected that another former Gunner could return to England this summer.
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Chuba Akpom close to signing for Birmingham City
In 2015, Chuba Akpom was promoted from Arsenal’s academy to the first team, which then saw him go out on a series of loans.
It wasn’t until 2018 that the Englishman left permanently to sign for Greek side PAOK, finding success overseas.
Akpom returned to England to sign for Middlesbrough before leaving his homeland once again to represent Ajax and LOSC Lille, and now, he could be on his way back.
Sky Sports have reported that the ex-Arsenal academy jewel is close to making the move to Birmingham City, joining a strong project in the Championship.
The English second-tier holds special memories for Akpom, who actually outscored Viktor Gyokeres to win the golden boot during the 2022/23 season.
Interestingly, Akpom was one who backed Arsenal to sign Gyokeres before the Swede’s transfer was confirmed, noticing what his former rival could offer to Mikel Arteta.
It would be a bold move for Akpom to make the move to Birmingham City at this moment in time, as the Blues eye Premier League promotion under the driven guidance of chairman Tom Brady.
Wenger saw Akpom’s potential
Akpom needed to leave Arsenal to find success, as it was clear that the striker’s pathway to ever making it as a first-team regular at his boyhood club was blocked.
That doesn’t mean to say that there was never a way in for the forward, who had an admirer in Arsene Wenger.
Speaking in 2015 after Akpom’s pre-season hat-trick against a Singapore Select XI, Wenger revealed his belief in the prospect’s potential.
“I know he has potential; he has an aggressive desire in the box. He can brush people away; he has an intense desire to score,” Wenger said.
“I believe this is an encouragement to him to work even harder and to show he can play in the first team.”
Akpom has never scored a goal in the Premier League, but in the Championship, he’s shown his worth, netting 36 career goals in the second-tier, something Birmingham are drawn to.
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