Overview

• Multiple reports say Hamburg are close to agreeing a permanent transfer for the 25-year-old midfielder for a modest fee, with estimates around £3m–£6m.
• Lokonga’s Arsenal deal runs to summer 2026 after a one-year option was triggered earlier this year to preserve value ahead of an anticipated sale.
• He has not played for Arsenal since January 2023 and spent recent seasons on loan at Crystal Palace, Luton Town and Sevilla, with injuries limiting his impact.
• Recent midfield arrivals, including Martin Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard, have pushed him further down the pecking order, leaving a move expected before the deadline.
• Trabzonspor and PAOK were linked, but reports indicate Lokonga prefers Hamburg, having trained with Arsenal’s first team while knowing his future lies elsewhere.