Jakub Kiwior says he learned of Arsenal exit from viral post as he completed move to Porto

Jakub Kiwior said he first learned he had left Arsenal via a viral social media post after completing a deadline-day transfer to FC Porto, telling reporters he “refused to say goodbye” when team-mates asked why he was still training.

The 25-year-old centre-back said the initial alert came from a post by transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, and only later did he receive confirmation from club officials. Kiwior is currently on international duty with Poland and gave the details in an interview published Friday.

Kiwior’s account highlights the often chaotic nature of deadline-day business as clubs finalise late moves. Arsenal conducted significant activity in the summer transfer window as they sought to strengthen a squad that has finished third in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons. The north London club signed players including Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi while also moving several players on, with Nuno Tavares and Marquinhos among those to leave permanently.

Arsenal did not recoup large fees in all departures, and Kiwior’s late exit was one of the final pieces of the club’s window. He joined Porto on deadline day in a deal announced publicly via social media and subsequently confirmed by the clubs.

In his interview, Kiwior described mixed emotions surrounding the switch. He said he had continued to train with Arsenal despite the transfer rumours, and when team-mates asked why he had not waved them off he “refused to say goodbye.” He attributed his first knowledge of the move to Romano’s post on X and said formal confirmation from club channels came afterward.

Kiwior joined Arsenal in the previous season and made appearances in the Premier League and cup competitions before the summer transfer. The defender’s move to Porto reunites him with a different league and competition schedule as he seeks regular first-team minutes and development ahead of international fixtures with Poland.

Porto confirmed the signing as part of their own summer recruitment drive; neither club disclosed full financial details in public statements. Transfer deadlines often produce a flurry of social-media-driven announcements and leaks, and Kiwior’s experience underscores how players themselves can sometimes learn of moves through third-party channels before internal briefings are completed.

Arsenal manager and club officials have not publicly addressed the specifics of how Kiwior first learned of his transfer. The club’s summer strategy focused on bolstering attacking and midfield options while streamlining the squad. Arsenal will begin their Premier League campaign aiming to convert recent top-three finishes into a title challenge, while Porto will integrate Kiwior into their defensive plans as the Portuguese side competes domestically and in European competition.

Kiwior remains with Poland for international fixtures and will report to Porto after the international break to complete his transition. The defender’s account adds to a growing catalogue of deadline-day stories in modern football where social media plays a central role in the dissemination of transfer news.