Who Is Christos Tzolis? Arsenal's New Set-Piece Specialist Making Waves After Club Brugge Success
Arsenal has started reinforcing their squad ahead of the next season, focusing on the left wing. The Gunners secured the Premier League title for the first time since 2004 and reached the Champions League final last year. They now aim to keep their momentum going into 2026/27.
Leandro Trossard played an important role during the title run but, at 31, his contributions were not consistently impactful over more than 2,000 minutes in the Premier League despite scoring six goals and assisting six. Gabriel Martinelli also struggled to deliver steady performances. With Trossard moving to Besiktas, Arsenal sought fresh talent to boost the left side. Enter Christos Tzolis, a promising new signing who will compete alongside Martinelli and might even offer an upgrade.
The Journey of Christos Tzolis
At 24 years old, Christos Tzolis started his football career at PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece, making 57 appearances before transferring to Norwich City for around €11 million ($12.5 million). He spent a single season with Norwich, scoring three goals in 30 games, then went on loans to FC Twente in the Netherlands and Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany.
Tzolis thrived at Dusseldorf, scoring 24 goals in 37 matches, which convinced the club to sign him permanently for just €3.5 million ($4 million). His performances attracted Belgian powerhouse Club Brugge, where he moved in summer 2024 for €6.5 million ($7.4 million), doubling Dusseldorf’s investment in a year.
At Club Brugge, Tzolis truly emerged as a star. Over two seasons, he appeared 108 times, netting 43 goals and assisting 45. His Champions League debut came with the Belgian side, tallying three goals and four assists in 21 matches. In knockout stages, he assisted key goals against Atalanta and Aston Villa, and scored against Atletico Madrid in the latest campaign.
Transfer Details and Role at Arsenal
According to ESPN, Arsenal paid about £34 million (€39.8 million/$45.7 million) for Tzolis. He signed a five-year contract with the London club.
Tzolis primarily plays as a left winger, filling the role left vacant by Trossard. He can also operate as a striker, attacking midfielder (No. 10), or on the right wing.
One of his standout qualities is his prowess in set-piece situations. Last season with Club Brugge, he created 52 chances from corners and free kicks, surpassing Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, who combined for 39 such chances in the Premier League.
"Christos Tzolis created 52 chances from set plays for Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League last season. By comparison, for Arsenal in the Premier League, Declan Rice created 27 and Bukayo Saka 12." — Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst)
Christos Tzolis’ Stats with Club Brugge
The Greek origin of his name makes it a bit tricky for English speakers. His first name sounds closer to "KREES-tos" rather than the common "CHRIS-tos." For his surname, the initial T is silent, so it is pronounced "ZOH-lis."
