Jakub Kiwior has shared his personal journey in convincing Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to allow him to move to Porto this summer. There were reports suggesting that the north London club was looking to offload the Polish centre-back, but Kiwior clarified that this was not the case.
The 25-year-old made 68 appearances for the Gunners and became increasingly vital last season, starting both legs of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clash with PSG in Gabriel’s absence. This summer, the arrival of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie intensified competition for places, leading Kiwior to seek regular playing time elsewhere.
“I was valued there; no one wanted to get rid of me. Arteta didn’t want me to leave for Portugal either, so I never felt unwanted,” he said in an interview.
Kiwior emphasized that the decision to leave was entirely his own. “The decision to leave was entirely mine. I wanted to play, but with Gabriel and Saliba ahead of me, the chances were small.”
He took the initiative by speaking directly to Arteta about his ambitions. “I convinced him myself. I went to talk to him and explained how I saw everything. He understood my ambitions and my desire.”
Porto played a significant role in finalizing the deal. “It was FC Porto who convinced me. At one point, they were calling every day. They fought hard and never gave up, even after several rejections from Arsenal.”
Kiwior has quickly adapted to life in Portugal, joining forces with former Southampton player and international teammate Jan Bednarek. His move to Porto is a season-long loan from Arsenal, who signed him from Serie A side Spezia for €20m (£17.6m) in 2023.
“I had many offers, but when I saw Jan Bednarek had joined, I told myself: if it works out, it will be great, and it really is,” he said.
So far this season, Kiwior has featured in five games for Porto, including a goalless draw with Jose Mourinho’s Benfica. The Portuguese champions remain unbeaten and three points clear at the top of the Primeira Liga.
Kiwior is firm in his belief that leaving the Premier League is not a step down. “I don’t see it that way. FC Porto and Arsenal have a lot in common. Great clubs, big ambitions, amazing fans and stadiums, and strong traditions.”
He added, “It wasn’t hard to say goodbye to London, especially thinking of the sporting opportunities.”
