Poland international Jakub Kiwior has admitted that leaving Arsenal on transfer deadline day was one of the toughest moments of his career.
The 25-year-old completed a late switch to FC Porto on loan, with the deal expected to become permanent next summer in a transfer worth around £22.5 million. Arsenal quickly moved to replace him by signing Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen.
Kiwior, who joined the Gunners in January 2023, became an important squad option last season, stepping up when Gabriel Magalhães was sidelined through injury. However, the defender felt the time was right to seek regular first-team football in Portugal.
Kiwior on His Difficult Arsenal Goodbye
Speaking to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Kiwior revealed just how emotional his departure from the Emirates was:
“It was difficult to say goodbye to Arsenal, because I didn’t know when it would actually happen. In the last three days, I didn’t know which one would be my last. Fabrizio Romano launched the ‘here we go’ campaign, and I started receiving dozens of messages and calls congratulating me.”
He went on to describe how the uncertainty around the move made it even harder to say farewell to his teammates and manager Mikel Arteta.
“I went to the pitch to say goodbye to my teammates and the coach. They set up a farewell tunnel, and it was tough… not everyone I wanted to say goodbye to was there, so I still had to make a few phone calls.”
Preferred Role at Porto
During his time at Arsenal, Kiwior was used both at centre-back and left-back. Now at Porto, he hopes to settle into his favoured role.
“I feel more comfortable playing left-back. My experience at Arsenal has given me great quality with the ball at my feet,” he said.
The defender also spoke about his excitement in joining one of Portugal’s biggest clubs:
“It’s a great pleasure for me to sign for FC Porto because I know the history and know this is a great club, so I’m very happy. I was really looking forward to getting here and discovering everything about the club.”
What’s Next for Kiwior
While the international break has delayed his full integration into the squad, Kiwior is eager to meet Porto fans and prove himself in Liga Portugal.
For Arsenal, the departure marks another defensive reshuffle under Mikel Arteta as they push for silverware this season. For Kiwior, it represents a fresh start and the chance to establish himself as a regular starter at one of Europe’s most historic clubs.
