Former Arsenal playmaker makes candid admission about difficult Emirates exit
Former Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira has opened up on the uncertainty surrounding his summer departure from the Gunners before completing a permanent move to Hamburger SV.
Vieira returned to Hamburg after spending the 2025/26 campaign on loan with the Bundesliga club, having entered the final year of his Arsenal contract.
Speaking to Sky Sport Germany, the Portuguese midfielder admitted the final days before the transfer were particularly stressful because he was unsure whether an agreement would be reached.
“The summer wasn’t easy for me,” Vieira said. “For a long time, I didn’t know where my path would lead. Everyone knew I was going into the final year of my contract with Arsenal.”
Vieira explained that his positive experience during his loan made returning to Hamburg his preferred outcome, describing the German club as the “perfect place” for him.
However, getting the deal over the line required negotiations with Arsenal, and Hamburg sporting director Claus Costa travelled to London as the Bundesliga side stepped up their efforts.
“Claus had a big influence,” Vieira added. “He came to London, we had a meeting there, and we laid everything on the table.”
Vieira said the discussions focused on finding the best solution for his return before negotiations were eventually left in the hands of the two clubs.
Hamburg confirmed his permanent signing on September 1, ending Vieira’s four-year association with Arsenal.
The 26-year-old originally joined Arsenal from Porto in 2022 but struggled to establish himself as a regular under Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
He ultimately made 49 appearances for the Gunners before successive loans to Porto and Hamburg preceded his permanent departure.
Vieira’s performances in Germany provided a considerably stronger platform for his career, with the playmaker recording seven goals and six assists across 31 competitive appearances as Hamburg finished 13th last season.
He has now revealed that he did not complete a full pre-season at Arsenal this summer and featured sparingly during the club’s friendlies before leaving.
Vieira used the subsequent international break to improve his conditioning and now believes he is back to “100 per cent”.
The midfielder also spoke about his technical development during the wide-ranging interview, naming Lionel Messi as the player with the greatest left foot in football history.
Yet his comments about Arsenal offer greater insight into the closing weeks of a transfer that ultimately suited all parties.
Vieira has found a club where he feels trusted, while Arsenal were able to permanently move on a player who had struggled to secure a consistent place in Arteta’s plans.
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