Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira seals Porto loan return before transfer deadline

Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira has completed a season-long loan move to Porto.

The 24-year-old left the Portuguese giants for the Gunners two years ago for around £34.3million but has since struggled for consistent game time under Mikel Arteta.

Vieira made 22 appearances in his debut season in north London but struggled with injuries last term and subsequently fell down the midfield pecking order.

He will now act as Francisco Conceicao’s replacement at Porto, with the Portugal international having been allowed to join Juventus on loan.

The imminent £32.6million arrival of Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad has increased competition for places in Arsenal’s midfield even further, as well as the emergence of academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri.

In total, Vieira has made 49 appearances for Arsenal to date, scoring three goals and registering nine assists in the process.

There will be no option or obligation for Porto to make the deal a permanent arrangement next summer, with Vieira - who has taken the No10 shirt at the Estadio do Dragao recently vacated by Conceicao - still under contract at Arsenal until the summer of 2027.

Vieira is the second player to leave Arsenal in recent days, with academy graduate Charlie Patino having joined Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna on Monday.

Striker Eddie Nketiah is expected to complete a £30m move to London rivals Crystal Palace soon, while Aaron Ramsdale is heading to Southampton in a £25m deal.

Arsenal will need to sign a replacement goalkeeper when Ramsdale moves on, with Joan Garcia of Espanyol their preferred target.